How to Become an Affiliate

CWT has two primary ways that companies can participate in CWT's research, development, education, and outreach efforts.

Affiliates Program

One way to work with CWT is to become an affiliated company. This avenue provides for a long term relationship with CWT with the major benefits of access to our students and faculty and influence in the direction of the Center. Please contact CWT if you have any questions.

There are two levels of membership. One is at the $20,000 level per year. This membership includes:

• Access to the "Affiliates Only" portion of the CWT website
• Participation in direction of the Center as a member of the CWT Advisory Board
• Access to CWT Graduate students
• Discounted Conference Admission
• Limited consulting by faculty

The higher level of membership at $35,000 per year provides for the benefits above as well as funding for a student to work on a project of interest to the affiliate. This provides for the company to have a direct relationship with one particular student and faculty member. The student's thesis or dissertation is provided to the affiliate upon completion.

Sponsored Research Contract

Another way to work with CWT is through a sponsored research contract. If a company has a specific task that it wants accomplished within a certain timeframe, then a sponsored research contract is the best route. These contracts are fixed priced contracts that are set up with firm deliverables and include Intellectual Property rights. In general, if any Intellectual Property is generated, the company will received a free nonexclusive license and can negotiate for an exclusive license. These contracts include university overhead as well.

The affiliate program differs from a research contract in that even though a student may be working on a project of interest to the affiliate, there are no defined deliverables and no Intellectual Property rights. CWT affiliates are given priority for sponsored research contracts.