Defense Patent Holiday Industry Day
Realizing the ROI: Turning Government Patents into Commercial Opportunities
On July 14, NextFlex hosted a microelectronics industry-focused session on the Defense Patent Holiday initiative where attendees learned how no-fee Commercial Evaluation Licenses can help companies assess, validate, and commercialize select technologies from defense laboratories.
- Attendees heard about the other Department resources being aligned to support licensees, such as special topic SBIRs, Venture Studios, and Office of Strategic Capital Loan Programs
- They also toured the NextFlex Advanced Manufacturing Facility to see how Department of War manufacturing innovation institutes can support product prototyping and manufacturing scale-up.
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About
The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) has launched the Defense Patent Holiday, a new pilot program designed to accelerate the commercialization of breakthrough defense technologies from the lab to the warfighter. Learn more about the patents here: https://info.techlinkcenter.org/defense-patent-holiday
This first-of-its-kind initiative offers qualified companies no-fee Commercial Evaluation Licenses (CELs) for a limited time, providing industry partners unprecedented access to government intellectual property. CELs give companies the unique opportunity to assess the defense patent, market, and consider the commercial potential of defense R&D.
Event Snapshot
Date: July 14, 2026
Location: NextFlex, 2244 Blach Place, San Jose, CA 95131. Virtual attendees were hosted on Zoom Webinar
Audience: Senior leaders from DoW, industry, investors, technologists, researchers, commercialization partners and capital partners
Format: Briefings, patent overview, partner pathway, and Q&A
Partners and Collaborators
TechLink, the official national technology transfer partner, will guide companies through every step of the Defense Patent Holiday licensing process — at no cost.
FedTech is a fully integrated, equity-free deep tech commercialization platform. They turn R&D into companies, contracts, and capabilities.
DoW T3CP Office has primary responsibility for strategic partnerships and leveraging intellectual property developed (1) at the over 216 DoW labs and, (2) by performers of extramural, DoW-funded R&D, for maximum capability, technology superiority, and economic and national security.
Through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, America’s Seed Fund awards non-dilutive funding to develop your technology and chart a path toward commercialization.
The SBA expands access to capital, provides expert counseling and training, helps small businesses compete for federal contracting opportunities, and leading disaster recovery efforts for businesses and communities in need.
LIFT, the National Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is hosting an Advanced Materials Industry Patent Day on September 23.
A faster, lower-friction path from lab discovery to market impact.
The Defense Patent Holiday initiative is designed to lower early barriers for companies to evaluate government-developed intellectual property and speed promising technologies toward commercial and operational use.
- No-fee evaluation access — Assess selected patents through Commercial Evaluation Licenses without the usual upfront costs during the evaluation window.
- “Try before you buy” — Use the evaluation period to understand technical fit, market potential, business case, and scale-up requirements.
- Direct innovation pathway — Connect with a clearer licensing route intended to transition breakthrough technologies from defense labs to industry and the warfighter.
How the Opportunity Works
Use this event to learn details on the process and advantages of leveraging U.S. government IP.
Step 1: Access available patents — Browse the curated set of technologies included in the Defense Patent Holiday pilot.
Step 2: Identify fit — Match patent opportunities to your product roadmap, customer demand, or investment thesis.
Step 3: Evaluate commercially — Apply for a CEL to assess technical, market, business, and scale-up potential.
Step 4: Plan the transition — Engage licensing and partnership pathways to move high-potential technology toward deployment.
“A clear path to move technology from the lab into the hands of the American warfighter and the American consumer.”
— Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil MichaelRead an update from the Assistant Secretary of War for Research and Engineering.
FAQs
FAQ 1:
Q: What is a Commercial Evaluation License?
A: A CEL lets a licensee evaluate a patent’s technical, market, and business potential, including potential scale-up challenges.
FAQ 2:
Q: Why is this called a Patent Holiday?
A: The pilot provides access to no-fee evaluation licenses during a defined period, helping companies explore opportunities before committing to a longer-term license.
FAQ 3:
Q: How do I start the patent application process?
A: Visit https://info.techlinkcenter.org/defense-patent-holiday to see selected patents, connect with TechLink, and start your application.
Ready to evaluate what’s possible? Watch the event recording
Watch this video to learn about available patent opportunities, no-fee CEL access, and the pathway from lab technology to real-world impact.
View the Recording:
View the Slides Here
Get Started Now
If you have any questions or would like to be connected with TechLink to discuss opportunities, please let us know!