Technology transfer from universities and research laboratories

Abstract

American business has been admired for its ability to assimilate and commercialize new science and technology. However, rising international competition has placed new emphasis on the commercialization of science and technology developed within our government laboratories and universities. Thus, while research and development remains the primary focus of these laboratories, laboratories and universities have implemented an additional goal of facilitating the commercialization of their discoveries, patents, and copyrights. The transfer of technology to industry is a complex task even within corporate laboratories. This process is more difficult for a federal laboratory or university, which lack the interaction with industry, market knowledge, and ability to assess the needs of business users. These necessities fall beyond their charter. Therefore, new organizational mechanisms are needed to obtain full commercial value of the laboratories' efforts. The authors instituted a study in which they examined organizational and policy arrangements used to commercialize the science and technology developed within federal laboratories.