Sandia National Laboratories has reported a significant increase in new Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) for the fiscal year 2024, reaching levels not seen since the early 1990s. The laboratory entered into 72 new agreements, marking the second-highest number in its history. In comparison, during the early 2000s, Sandia executed about half that number annually.
CRADAs are contracts that enable federal labs and external parties to jointly develop technologies by leveraging each other's expertise and resources. Jason Martinez, a business development specialist at Sandia, stated: “We’re trying to make CRADAs more accessible by lowering the barriers to enter into an agreement with Sandia, including with a master scope of work.”
The master scope of work is currently in a pilot phase and is a result of collaboration with the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Sandia Field Office. Martinez noted that this approach can be used in low-risk situations and significantly speeds up CRADA approval time. He mentioned that approximately 78% of CRADAs using this method were completed within 30 days or less from initiation to execution.
“CRADAs should only be leveraged in specific circumstances,” said Martinez. These agreements are intended for non-federal entities, and factors such as collaborative potential and the likelihood of developing new products or processes are considered before entering into them.
Martinez emphasized: “Our CRADA partners get to work with Sandia’s experts as well as the research and development capabilities and resources we have here.” He added that industry and academic partners bring significant expertise to help solve problems alongside Sandia's efforts.
The range of work covered by these agreements includes advancements in microneedle technology and quantum photonics. Although fiscal year 1994 holds the record for most new CRADAs with 84 agreements, fiscal year 2024 surpassed fiscal year 1993's total of 68 new CRADAs.
Mary Monson, senior manager for Sandia’s business development, remarked on changes over time: “When the CRADA program launched in the early ’90s... there was a strong emphasis on U.S. economic security... Now, there is also a strong emphasis on maturing Sandia technology and moving it out of the labs.”
Two studies commissioned by the National Nuclear Security Administration and Sandia examined the impact of CRADAs between 2000 and 2023. They found an economic impact of $140 billion along with over 600,000 jobs created through these agreements.
“There’s been an uptick in New Mexico businesses partnering with the Labs through CRADAs,” said Martinez. State funding initiatives like New Mexico’s Technology Readiness Gross Receipts initiative play a role in encouraging local businesses to collaborate with scientists from both Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories.
For more information about CRADAs, businesses can visit the Sandia website.
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