Technology Transfer

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From formulation knowledge to industrial capability

Technology transfer projects connect formulation and synthesis development with industrial implementation.

The purpose is to provide the customer with the technical capability expressly defined in the project scope, which may include formulation methodology, synthesis procedures, processing windows, raw-material specifications, quality-control methods, scale-up guidance, troubleshooting knowledge and other agreed technical deliverables.

The service can range from development of a formulation or synthesis route to structured transfer of an agreed technical package enabling the customer's internal team to implement the process.

The scope of knowledge transferred is determined by the applicable project agreement and should not be inferred solely from the term "technology transfer".

2D formulation and synthesis consulting

3Dresyns® provides 2D formulation and synthesis consulting and technology-transfer services covering, depending on project scope:

• synthesis routes for solvent-based, water-based, UV-curable, LED-UV-curable and EB-curable resin systems;
• formulation strategies for inks, coatings, paints, varnishes, adhesives and functional layers;
• development or optimization of polymeric binders and resin systems;
• adaptation of laboratory formulations to industrially available raw materials and equipment;
• stabilization of formulations for manufacturing, storage and application;
• structured transfer of formulation and synthesis methodology;
• definition of manufacturing process windows;
• definition of quality-control methods and critical control points;
• scale-up assessment;
• troubleshooting during implementation; and
• training-oriented technical handover where expressly included.

These services are separate from the proprietary commercial 3D printing resin platforms supplied by 3Dresyns®.

No transfer of commercial 3Dresyns® resin formulation architecture is implied by engagement of a 2D technology-transfer service.

Deliverables are defined project by project

Depending on the agreed scope, deliverables may include:

• formulation specifications;
• synthesis procedures;
• manufacturing procedures;
• raw-material specifications or selection criteria;
• processing windows;
• mixing or dispersion procedures;
• curing, drying or crosslinking guidance;
• quality-control methods;
• acceptance criteria;
• critical process parameters;
• scale-up notes;
• troubleshooting guidance;
• technical reports;
• training documentation;
• implementation recommendations; and
• other technical documentation expressly identified in the project agreement.

Not every project includes every type of deliverable.

Only deliverables expressly included in the applicable quotation, scope of work or project agreement form part of the contracted service.

Industrial formulation targets

Projects may target objectives such as:

• improving reproducibility and reducing batch-to-batch variability;
• increasing solids content while controlling viscosity;
• improving storage stability;
• improving shear or temperature-cycle stability;
• reducing coagulation, sedimentation, settling or phase separation;
• improving adhesion;
• improving rub, chemical or blocking resistance;
• aligning curing, drying or crosslinking behavior with line speed and equipment constraints;
• defining quality-control tests and acceptance criteria;
• adapting formulations to locally available raw materials;
• addressing cost or supply-chain constraints;
• adapting formulations to production equipment; and
• improving industrial robustness and process control.

These are potential technical objectives. The specific objectives and success criteria applicable to a project must be defined in the agreed project scope.

Technical areas

Technology-transfer projects may involve:

• design and optimization of polymerization routes;
• selection and qualification of monomers, oligomers, binders, resins, solvents and additives;
• control of molecular weight and related synthesis parameters;
• rheology and solids-content optimization;
• dispersion and stabilization;
• curing, drying, film-formation and crosslinking mechanisms;
• pigment, filler, wax and additive compatibility;
• functional additive packages;
• translation of laboratory methods into pilot or production procedures; and
• definition of appropriate quality-control and process-control methods.

The technical approach depends on the chemistry, intended application, available manufacturing equipment, raw materials and project objectives.

2D material systems

Technology-transfer services may be applied to:

• printing inks for graphic arts;
• functional printing inks;
• overprint varnishes;
• protective coatings;
• water-based paints;
• solvent-based paints;
• UV-curable coatings;
• LED-UV-curable systems;
• EB-curable systems;
• hybrid curable systems;
• adhesives and laminating systems;
• specialty papers;
• nonwovens;
• functional surface treatments;
• primers;
• tie-coats;
• barrier coatings;
• metallisation coatings; and
• other agreed 2D functional material systems.

From laboratory formulation to production

Technology transfer may include support for moving a formulation or synthesis process from laboratory scale toward pilot or industrial implementation.

Depending on scope, this may include:

• assessment of laboratory-to-pilot scale-up;
• assessment of pilot-to-production scale-up;
• adaptation of synthesis procedures to available industrial equipment;
• adaptation of mixing and dispersion procedures;
• identification of critical process parameters;
• definition of process-control points;
• definition of acceptable operating windows;
• assessment of raw-material variability;
• quality-control recommendations;
• manufacturing documentation; and
• troubleshooting during implementation where included.

Scale-up may require adjustments because mixing, heat transfer, mass transfer, dispersion, reaction kinetics, equipment geometry and other production variables can change with manufacturing scale.

Accordingly, successful laboratory performance does not by itself guarantee identical performance at pilot or production scale.

Implementation support where agreed

Technology-transfer work may be performed through written technical exchanges, remote meetings, structured documentation and other agreed methods.

Where expressly included in the project, 3Dresyns® may also provide technical support or training at the customer's facilities.

Customer-site work may require additional travel, accommodation, time or other expenses as defined in the applicable quotation or project agreement.

Technology-transfer services do not grant the customer, its auditors or other private third parties any reciprocal right to access, inspect or audit 3Dresyns® facilities, laboratories, manufacturing areas, systems or confidential operations.

Industrial implementation requires customer participation

The customer is responsible for providing accurate information reasonably necessary for the project, including relevant information concerning:

• the intended application;
• target properties;
• existing formulations or baseline technology where applicable;
• available raw materials;
• manufacturing equipment;
• production scale;
• process constraints;
• quality-control requirements;
• regulatory or market requirements known to the customer;
• cost or sourcing constraints; and
• other material project limitations.

3Dresyns® cannot reasonably design or transfer around technical or commercial constraints that have not been communicated.

The customer is responsible for implementing, validating and controlling the transferred technology in its own manufacturing environment unless a different responsibility has been expressly accepted in writing.

Scope-defined execution

Technology-transfer projects are performed according to an agreed quotation, scope of work, development agreement or other written project framework.

The project documentation may define:

• technical objectives;
• baseline information;
• project phases;
• milestones;
• deliverables;
• number or type of development iterations;
• testing responsibilities;
• scale-up responsibilities;
• success or acceptance criteria;
• documentation to be transferred;
• training where applicable;
• fees and payment conditions;
• confidentiality;
• intellectual-property rights;
• licensing or assignment rights where applicable;
• territorial or field-of-use restrictions where applicable; and
• activities excluded from scope.

Material changes to objectives, chemistry, equipment, raw materials, performance requirements, regulatory requirements or deliverables may require an amended scope and additional fees.

Typical project formats

• Technical assessment: definition of targets, constraints, baseline information and potential technical route.
• Troubleshooting sprint: focused technical work intended to identify and address defined failure modes or instability.
• Development project: structured formulation or synthesis development against defined technical targets.
• Development and transfer project: milestone-based development followed by structured transfer of the deliverables and implementation know-how expressly included in scope.
• Scale-up support: support for transferring an agreed laboratory or pilot process toward industrial production.

Projects requiring development work, rapid adaptation cycles, proprietary baselines or structured knowledge handover may require an upfront engagement fee and milestone-based payments according to the applicable quotation.

Controlled transfer

Technology transfer involves a deliberate distinction between information that is transferred to the customer and intellectual property or know-how that remains with its existing owner.

Confidentiality, ownership, licensing, permitted use and transfer rights should therefore be defined contractually according to the specific project.

Where appropriate, the project may be conducted under a bilateral Non-Disclosure Agreement before detailed Confidential Information is exchanged.

Pre-existing knowledge remains protected

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, each Party retains ownership of intellectual property, know-how, trade secrets, formulations, methods, software, data, documentation and other proprietary information that it owned or controlled before the project or developed independently outside the project.

This is referred to as Background Intellectual Property.

Engaging 3Dresyns® for Technology Transfer does not automatically transfer ownership of:

• 3Dresyns® pre-existing formulation know-how;
• general synthesis knowledge;
• general formulation methodologies;
• pre-existing raw-material knowledge;
• general scale-up methodologies;
• software or internal development tools;
• commercial 3D printing resin formulations;
• unrelated proprietary technologies;
• trade secrets outside the agreed transfer scope; or
• information belonging confidentially to another customer or third party.

Customer information remains subject to customer rights

Pre-existing formulations, technical data, specifications, manufacturing information, designs, intellectual property and other information lawfully supplied by the customer remain subject to the customer's applicable ownership and confidentiality rights.

3Dresyns® does not acquire ownership of customer Background Intellectual Property merely because it is used as input to a consulting or Technology Transfer project.

Ownership must be expressly defined

Technology-transfer projects may generate new formulations, synthesis procedures, improvements, methods, data, documentation, know-how, inventions or other potentially protectable results.

The ownership and permitted use of such project-generated results should be defined in the applicable project agreement.

No transfer of ownership of project-generated intellectual property should be inferred merely from payment for consulting or technology-transfer services unless the applicable agreement expressly provides for that transfer.

Depending on the agreed commercial model, the Parties may establish ownership, co-ownership, assignment, licensing, field-of-use rights, territorial rights, exclusivity or other exploitation conditions.

Different transfer models may be agreed

A technology-transfer project may involve different intellectual-property structures.

For example, the project agreement may provide for:

• delivery of defined know-how for internal customer use;
• a non-exclusive license;
• an exclusive license within an agreed field or territory;
• a license subject to specific manufacturing or commercialization rights;
• assignment of specifically identified rights;
• joint ownership of specifically identified developments; or
• another expressly negotiated structure.

The existence of a technology-transfer project does not by itself determine which model applies.

The applicable rights are those expressly established in the relevant written agreement.

No implied exclusivity

Technology-transfer services are not exclusive unless exclusivity is expressly agreed in writing.

Where exclusivity is requested, the agreement should identify its scope, including any applicable technology, formulation, application, field of use, territory, duration and commercial conditions.

Payment for a development or transfer project does not by itself prohibit 3Dresyns® from using its general knowledge, experience, skills, methodologies or Background Intellectual Property in other work, subject always to its confidentiality obligations regarding customer-specific Confidential Information.

No transfer of rights that 3Dresyns® does not own

3Dresyns® does not transfer proprietary third-party formulations, trade secrets or other intellectual property that it does not have the legal right to transfer.

Where a formulation or process requires third-party materials, patents, software, licenses or other rights, the applicable project scope should identify such dependencies where material and known.

Unless expressly included in the project agreement, the customer remains responsible for obtaining third-party licenses, permissions or authorizations required for its own manufacture, commercialization or end use.

Protection of non-public information

Confidential Information exchanged during a project must be handled in accordance with the applicable NDA, confidentiality agreement, project agreement and mandatory law.

Technology Transfer does not authorize disclosure of 3Dresyns® Confidential Information beyond the persons, entities, purposes and scope permitted under the applicable agreement.

Likewise, 3Dresyns® must respect applicable confidentiality obligations concerning customer information received for the project.

Confidentiality obligations may continue after completion of the project according to the applicable agreement and, for qualifying trade secrets, according to applicable trade-secret law.

Public disclosure must respect IP and confidentiality

Patent applications, scientific publications, presentations, marketing materials and other public disclosures involving project Confidential Information or jointly generated non-public results must comply with the intellectual-property, confidentiality and publication conditions applicable to the project.

A Party must not use a patent filing or publication to disclose, appropriate or claim Confidential Information or intellectual property belonging to the other Party without the rights legally required to do so.

Where applicable, see Patent filing restrictions, 3Dresyns restricted publications and Permission to publish.

Transfer scope defines permitted access

The customer may use and analyze information expressly transferred for the purposes authorized by the applicable Technology Transfer agreement.

However, a Technology Transfer project does not authorize reverse engineering, compositional analysis or reconstruction of unrelated 3Dresyns® Products, formulations or Confidential Information outside the agreed transfer scope.

See Prohibition against reverse engineering.

Application-specific requirements

Technology-transfer projects may take applicable safety, regulatory, environmental or market requirements into account where they are identified as part of the agreed project scope.

Unless expressly included as a separate contracted responsibility, 3Dresyns® does not assume responsibility for obtaining the customer's final regulatory approvals, permits, registrations or certifications.

The customer remains responsible for determining and validating the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to its manufacturing operations, final formulations, Products, markets and end uses.

Transferred technology must be validated in the receiving environment

Industrial performance can depend on raw-material lots, manufacturing equipment, batch size, mixing and dispersion equipment, process control, environmental conditions, application equipment, substrates and other production variables.

Accordingly, the customer should validate the transferred process under its actual manufacturing conditions before relying on it for routine commercial production.

Unless a particular result has been expressly accepted as a contractual deliverable under defined conditions, Technology Transfer does not constitute a guarantee that identical results will be obtained under every manufacturing environment or scale.

Define measurable criteria where required

Where project success depends on specific measurable properties, those properties, test methods, test conditions, tolerances and acceptance criteria should be defined in the project documentation.

Technical targets should be distinguished from guaranteed contractual acceptance criteria.

A target becomes a binding acceptance criterion only where it is expressly identified as such in the applicable quotation, scope of work or project agreement.

Technical development and commercial performance are different

Technology Transfer is intended to provide professional technical development and implementation support.

It does not guarantee market acceptance, commercial profitability, regulatory approval, freedom to operate, availability of particular raw materials, future raw-material pricing or customer-specific business outcomes unless a particular obligation has been expressly accepted in writing.

Technology Transfer does not open 3Dresyns® facilities

Engagement in a Technology Transfer project does not grant customers, consultants, private auditors, notified bodies acting for customers or other private third parties any right to access, inspect or audit 3Dresyns® facilities, laboratories, manufacturing areas, systems, development tools or confidential operations.

All information and know-how to be transferred will be supplied through the methods and deliverables expressly established in the applicable project scope.

Where practical implementation requires physical support, 3Dresyns® may provide services at the customer's premises if expressly agreed.

International implementation

3Dresyns® may provide Technology Transfer services to customers internationally.

Projects may therefore involve different manufacturing locations, raw-material supply chains, regulatory environments and intellectual-property jurisdictions.

The applicable agreement should define the governing contractual framework and, where relevant, territorial, licensing or commercialization rights.

Mandatory legal requirements applicable in the relevant jurisdictions remain unaffected.

Typical customers

• chemical manufacturers;
• ink manufacturers;
• coating and paint manufacturers;
• adhesive producers;
• industrial R&D departments;
• start-ups transitioning from development to manufacturing;
• companies internalizing previously outsourced formulations;
• companies replacing or redesigning existing formulations;
• companies requiring formulation troubleshooting;
• companies requiring synthesis development; and
• companies requiring industrial scale-up support.

Core technology-transfer routes

Start with the page that matches the required scope.

UV / LED inks and overprint varnishes

Coatings, primers and specialty systems

Water-based resins, emulsions and binders

Adhesives

Different service models

2D Technology Transfer and 3D Resin Customization are different service models.

Technology Transfer covers 2D formulation and synthesis consulting where agreed know-how, formulations, synthesis methods or implementation capability may be transferred under a defined contractual framework.

3D Resin Customization is intended to develop or adapt ready-to-use additive-manufacturing materials while preserving the proprietary formulation architecture and trade secrets of the 3Dresyns® 3D resin platform unless a separate written agreement expressly provides otherwise.