Chapter 2: Technology Development and Transfer
Technology development and transfer programs arguably have become, within the
last five years, the most important federal contribution to local economic development.
Yet such efforts have evolved differently from other federal initiatives designed
to spark industrial growth. Policymakers have realized that the impetus for
action rests with the private sector and that manufacturers themselves need
to commit to invest in improving production processes and adapting more modern
technologies. Yet within this framework of private-sector action and market
forces, the public sector can play an important informational, liaison, or brokering
role, enhancing private decisions with public-sector support. This section describes
federal technology assistance efforts that provide manufacturers with the tools
and expertise needed to modernize.
A critical aspect of technology transfer is bringing existing technologies to established companies that have not heretofore considered them. This type of technology "deployment" can make these enterprises operate more efficiently. It also can help them establish new product lines, which can be especially important in areas where the manfuacturing base is eroding and traditional producers are looking for new growth opportunities. In practice, the deployment aspect of technology transfer also can bring important economic benefits — such as jobs and tax base retention — to communities.
Four federal programs are profiled in this chapter. Some focus on traditional manufacturing industries, others concentrate on a particular technology aspect, such as energy. Despite their diversity, federal technology initiatives address similar goals.
Develop new technologies and products. Many institutions have long traditions of research, but promoting the "commercial applicability" of those research results often constitutes a new direction. Local officials, recognizing the economic development benefits of these commercialization activities, are urging even more collaboration among government, business, and research facilities in order to enhance manufacturing activity, spin-off entrepreneurial enterprises, create and retain jobs, and increase tax revenues. To this end, two types of technology transfer strategies typically are pursued: using existing advanced technologies in new ways; and supporting research to develop new technologies and help bring them to market.
Bring more modern technologies and processes to existing industries. In several areas, notably the industrial Midwest, federal technology initiatives have helped existing manufacturers attract new investment capital for modernization projects. These "technology deployment" efforts are dispelling the myth that technology innovations and traditional manufacturing operations do not fit together. In fact, federally-supported programs are credited with developing key breakthroughs in CAD/CAM, ceramics, and welding that have improved productivity in heavy industry. Many of these efforts are aimed at helping small and mid-sized manufacturers, unable to explore these areas on their own, adopt new and existing technologies.
Technology development and transfer programs coordinate a series of activities in which research with commercial potential is refined and brought to market. In many respects, their potential for industry is just emerging; in only the last few years, federally-sponsored technology transfer programs have carried a number of new products from the laboratory to the consumer. In practical economic development terms, these nascent programs have brought new investment, jobs, and business opportunities to areas that need them badly. Federally-supported programs and research and technology centers take several forms:
Federal technology programs address the issues of technology development and transfer in various ways. Some programs put formal networks in place; others arrange for small operations to share facilities and equipment with larger producers; still others encourage resource entities, such as universities, to seek out and work with prospective beneficiaries. Other programs focus on commercialization, a key part of a successful technology transfer initiative.
Both manufacturers and federal program officials must realize that successful technology development and transfer programs can use public-sector intervention at two stages: during the early steps to stimulate research on new technologies; and with subsequent efforts to promote their commercial application. Rather than concentrate solely on "high" technology, many officials have broadened their scope to focus on "advanced" technology. In practice, this means working with existing manufacturers, regardless of sector, in applying proven technological techniques to upgrade and modernize a production process.
As the following program profiles indicate, federal technology programs may be diverse in design and differ in the nature of the support they provide, but they all serve as a common meeting ground for technology researchers, private industry executives, technical assistance providers, and economic development officials. By working together, these players can advance the technical capability necessary to develop new processes or streamline existing ones, promote industries, and nurture new companies.
Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP)
| Objective: | To help provide for the development of "dual-use" technologies with both defense and commercial sector applicability. |
| Eligibility: | Most requests for proposals are targeted to for-profit commercial firms; others are targeted to educational, governmental, or non-profit organizations. |
| Cost: | No application fee, but non-federal financial match is required. |
| Services: | Financial grants for development and transfer of dual-use technologies. |
Description
The Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) is a multi-agency technology investment effort administered by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the Department of Defense (DoD), in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, National Science Foundation, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The TRP is considered part of DoD's dual-use programs, which seek to promote the development of technologies that are critical to meet national defense needs and also have sufficient commercial viability.
First funded in 1993, the TRP seeks to support technologies that will provide for the most advanced, affordable, military systems, as well as commercial products that can compete in domestic and international marketplaces. TRP programs focus on defense-related technologies and processes; encourage minimal federal financial participation; and emphasize partnerships between companies, agencies, and research institutions such as universities. TRP rules require cost-sharing between participants and the federal government. All funds are awarded through a competitive process.
The TRP, as required by Congress, is administered as a collection of seven specific programs: Defense Dual-Use Critical Technology Partnerships, Commercial-Military Integration Partnerships, Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships, Defense Dual-Use Assistance Extension, Regional Technology Alliances Assistance, Manufacturing Extension, and Defense Manufacturing Engineering Education. These programs fall into one of three broad categories. In practice, past solicitations have requested proposals by these categories rather than by specific programs.
Technology development programs spark creation and maturation of new dual-use products and processes that are likely to become commercially viable between two to five years after completion of the TRP-funded project. Proposal solicitations often are pegged to specific technology focus areas that DoD and its partner agencies define. The TRP will not support basic research, final product development beyond prototypes, or feasibility demonstrations. Technology development awards are given to industry- led efforts.
Technology deployment programs aim to develop systems or structures that can bring newer technologies to small and mid-sized manufacturers. These funds have helped support the work of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (See profile on page 95.)
Manufacturing education and training initiatives focus on upgrading worker skills so that a flexible labor force can carry out a variety of functions required by dual-use production processes. TRP assistance in this category consists of one-time grants to universities or other higher-education institutions for worker training programs.
Application Process
The ARPA solicits TRP proposals about once a year. It publicizes those solicitations in the Commerce Business Daily. Prospective participants also can obtain announcements and information packets describing basic organizational requirements, and be placed on a mailing list, by calling 1-800- DUAL-USE. Some ARPA proposal requests do not solicit applications in each of the three categories; for example, the most recent solicitation was targeted only to technology development. Nevertheless, all TRP applications must meet three requirements:
The TRP application process has been designed to minimize the time and effort a manufacturer or other organization might spend on a proposal that ultimately proves unsuccessful. After project areas are publicized but before the formal proposal solicitation, prospective proposers are given an opportunity to discuss possible project ideas with TRP staff and to submit a five-page concept paper on which TRP's collaborating agencies will comment. Paper reviews include an informal assessment of the proposal's viability and its relevance to TRP goals and objectives. After all concept papers are reviewed and returned, ARPA issues its formal request for proposals. Based on comments received, private companies and other organizations can better determine their chances to compete successfully for a TRP award. Completed proposals must include TRP cover sheets, a technical proposal (less than 40 pages), and a cost proposal (less than 50 pages).
Evaluation teams comprised of technology experts from the sponsoring federal agencies review each proposal. They rate the proposals according to the criteria published in the TRP solicitation and designate them as either "not recommended," "recommended," or "highly recommended." The ARPA oversees two additional review processes, undertaken to assure quality across technology focus area and competition targets, as well as to make sure that prospective awards fit within current TRP budget limits. Award announcements are made between three to six months after proposals are submitted. After an award is made, project budgets must be negotiated, a process that takes an additional six to nine months, depending on the proposal's complexity.
About $415 million in TRP awards were made in fiscal 1995, for projects ranging in size from $90,000 to $10 million. TRP funding generally is available for one or two years, although applicants may seek additional support for a one- or two-year extension. The TRP proved to be a highly competitive program during its first two funding rounds. In the initial 1993 round, ARPA received 2,580 proposals requesting more than $8.5 billion in resources; since just 212 projects were funded, for a total of $605 million, the success rate for applicants was only 7.4 percent. As indicated above, TRP partner agencies have attempted to reduce the number of proposals, early in the process, that are not likely to win approval.
Impact
Since 1993, the first year in which TRP awards were made, the partner agencies have awarded $1.3 billion in federal matching funds. Although none of the first year awards has been completed, one measure of program impact is the extent to which private-sector participation has been achieved. In 1993, $1.20 in private-sector match was leveraged for every $1 contributed by the TRP. Agency officials estimate that for the 1995 round the figure will rise to between $1.50 and $1.70 per TRP dollar.
Success Stories
1) Four companies — AIL Systems, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Industrial Quality Inc., and PMX — teamed to develop a two-dimensional gamma ray imaging system that can help locate radioactive materials during environmental cleanups. Unlike existing detection systems that can "point" only at the location of radioactive materials, this imaging system will allow sources emitting gamma rays to be viewed on TV-like monitors in order to determine with great precision their location, size, and intensity. Development activities include the integration of advanced detection and signal processing technologies and the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a prototype detector. A near-term market of up to $200 million in sales is possible, including both U.S. and international customers. Completion of the project will require 18 months and an estimated $1.8 million.
2) Two small firms, Dragon Systems and Analog Devices, are working to develop software for a handheld computer that can be activated by voice, rather than by keyboard. Dragon Systems is a world leader in speech recognition, and Analog Devices has achieved similar stature in signal processing products. The new voice recognition system will replace tiny keyboards on hand-held computers that are difficult to use. It will be able to cope with both small, specialized technical vocabularies, as well as large vocabularies for general use. The speech recognition software will be scalable to fit the memory available on various computers, making it adaptable to multiple machines. This $7-million effort will have important implications for business and education, as well as significant military applications.
Future Prospects
Combined funding for all TRP programs reached $327 million in fiscal 1995. The Clinton Administration requested $500 million for fiscal 1996, but Congress has sought to downsize or even eliminate the program. Though congressional debate on the Defense Department appropriations is not complete at this time, it is generally accepted that the TRP will receive a significantly reduced level of funding in fiscal 1996.
Contacts
Each state has identified a point of contact to provide additional information and to help coordinate activities among companies that may wish to participate in the TRP. Activities vary by state, and may include networking opportunities, proposal workshops, or development of a partnering database. A list of state points of contact for the TRP are listed below. For general information on TRP and its programs, interested parties also can contact ARPA at the numbers and addresses below.
Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)
3701 N. Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203-1714
703-696- 8942 or 1-800-DUAL-USE
Fax: 703-696-3813
email: pa95-04@arpa.mil
State Points of Contact for Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) (as of August 1995) ALABAMA Technology and Energy Department Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs 401 Adams Avenue Suite 560 Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5690 205-242-5286 (voice) 205-242-5515 (fax) ALASKA Alaska Science and Technology Foundation 4500 Diplomacy Drive Anchorage, Alaska 99508-5918 907-272-4333 (voice) 907-274-6228 (fax) ARIZONA Energy Director Arizona Department of Commerce 3800 North Central, Suite 1200 Phoenix, Arizona 85012 800-528-8421 (voice) 602-280-1336 (voice) 602-280-1535 (fax) ARKANSAS Science & Technology Authority 100 Main Street, Suite 450 Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 501-324-9006 (voice) 501-324-9012 (fax) CALIFORNIA Office of Strategic Technology Trade and Commerce Agency 200 East Del Mar Ave., Suite 204 Pasadena, California 91105 818-568-9437 (voice) 818-568-9962 (fax) COLORADO Colorado Advanced Technology Institute 1625 Broadway, Suite 700 Denver, Colorado 80202 303-620-4777 ext. 301 (voice) 303-620-4789 (fax) CONNECTICUT Connecticut Innovations Inc. 40 Cold Spring Road Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067-3405 203-563-5851 (voice) 203-563-4877 (fax) DELAWARE Office of Policy and Planning Delaware Development Office 99 Kings Highway, P.O. Box 1401 Dover, Delaware 19903 302-739-4271 (voice) 302-739-5749 (fax) FLORIDA High Technology Office Florida Department of Commerce 107 West Gaines Street, Room 315 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2000 904-487-3134 (voice) GEORGIA Georgia Office of Planning and Budget 254 Washington St S.W., Suite 614 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-656-3820 (voice) 404-656-7198 (fax) HAWAII Hawaii High Technology Development Corporation 300 Kahelu Ave., Suite 35 Mililani, Hawaii 96789 808-625-5293 (voice) 808-625-6363 (fax) IDAHO Idaho Department of Commerce 700 W. State Street, 2nd Floor Boise, Idaho 83720-2700 208-334-2470 (voice) 208-334-2631 (fax) ILLINOIS Illinois Science Advisory Committee 107 Stratton Building Springfield, Illinois 62706 217-782-5189 (voice) 217-785-6083 (fax) INDIANA Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation One North Capitol Ave., Suite 925 Indianapolis, Indiana 46224 317-635-3058 (voice) 317-231-7095 (fax) IOWA Wallace Technology Transfer Foundation 200 E. Grand Ave., Suite 130 Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1827 515-243-1487 (voice) 515-243-1975 (fax) KANSAS Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation 112 S. West Sixth Street, Suite 400 Topeka, Kansas 66603 913-296-5272 (voice) 913-296-1160 (fax) KENTUCKY Office of Business and Technology Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development 2200 Capitol Plaza Tower, 22nd Floor Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 502-564-7670 (voice) 502-564-7697 (fax) LOUISIANA Louisiana Department of Economic Development 101 France Street, Suite 306 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804 504-342-5388 (voice) 504-342-9095 (fax) MAINE Maine Science and Technology Foundation 87 Winthrop Street Augusta, Maine 04330 207-621-6350 (voice) 207-621-6369 (fax) MARYLAND Department of Economic and Employment Development 217 East Redwood St., Suite 2300 Baltimore, Maryland 21202 410-333-6901 (voice) 410-333-6911 (fax) MASSACHUSETTS Defense, Diversification and Technology Transfer Office of Economic Affairs 1 Ashburton Place, Room 2101 Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-3206 (voice) 617-727-8797 (fax) MICHIGAN Michigan Office of the Governor 111 South Capitol, Olds. Plaza Bldg.. P.O. Box 30013 Lansing, Michigan 48909 517-373-7949 (voice) 517-335-0118 (fax) MINNESOTA Minnesota Technology Inc. 111 Third Avenue, South Suite 400 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 612-338-7722 (voice) 612-339-5214 (fax) MISSISSIPPI Community and Economic Development Center Mississippi State University P.O. Drawer AQ Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 601-325-2547 (voice) 601-325-8872 (fax) MISSOURI Missouri Department of Economic Development 301 West High Street, Room 680 P.O. Box 1157 Jefferson City, Missouri 65102 314-751-5095 (voice) 314-751-7258 (fax) MONTANA Science and Technology Alliance 46 North Last Chance Gulch, Ste 2B Helena, Montana 59601 406-449-2778 (voice) 406-442-0788 (fax) NEBRASKA College of Engineering and Technology Science Advisor to the Governor University of W181 Nebraska Hall Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0501 402-472-3181 (voice) NEVADA Nevada Washington Office 444 N. Capitol Street, Suite 209 Washington, D.C. 20001 202-624-5405 (voice) 202-624-8181 (fax) NEW HAMPSHIRE New Hampshire Division of Economic Development 172 Pembroke Road Concord, New Hampshire 03301 603-271-2341 (voice) 603-271-2629 (fax) NEW JERSEY New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology 28 West State Street, CN-832 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0832 609-633-2740 (voice) 609-292-5920 (fax) NEW MEXICO New Mexico Office of the Governor 1515 Eubank SE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123 505-844-6015 (voice) 505-844-2896 (fax) NEW YORK New York State Science and Technology Foundation 99 Washington Ave., Suite 1730 Albany, New York 12210 518-474-4349 (voice) 518-473-6876 (fax) NORTH CAROLINA Policy, Budget, and Technology North Carolina Department of Administration 116 West Jones Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 919-715-0960 (voice) 919-715-3775 (fax) NORTH DAKOTA North Dakota School of Engineering and Mines P.O. Box 8372, University Station Harrington Hall, Room 100 Campus Drive Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202 701-777-5128 (voice) 701-777-2339 (fax) OHIO Rife Center Ohio's Thomas Edison Program 77 South High Street, 25th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215-0101 614-466-3086 (voice) 614-644-5758 (fax) OKLAHOMA Center for Advancement of Science and Technology 4545 N. Lincoln Blvd., Ste. 116 Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3413 405-524-1357 (voice) 405-521-6501 (fax) E-mail: ocast@ionet.net http://www.odoc.state.ok.us/ocastweb.htm OREGON OSU Oregon Center for Advanced Technology Education Corvell Hall 100 Corvallis, Oregon 97331-2409 503-737-3101 (voice) 503-737-3467 (fax) PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania Office of Technology Development Department of Commerce 352 Forum Building Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 717-787-4147 (voice) 717-772-5080 (fax) RHODE ISLAND Rhode Island Office of Defense Economic Adjustment 35 Belver Avenue North Kingston, Rhode Island 02852 401-277-3134 (voice) 401-295-8345 (fax) SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina Research Authority P.O. Box 12025 Columbus, South California 29211 803-799-4070 (voice) 803-252-7642 (fax) SOUTH DAKOTA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 501 East St. Joseph Street Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 605-394-2411 (voice) 605-394-3388 (fax) TENNESSEE Science and Technology Department of Economic and Community Development 320 6th Ave. North, Rachel Jackson Bldg.. 6th Floor Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0405 615-741-2994 (voice) 615-741-5070 (fax) TEXAS Office of Advanced Technology Texas Department of Commerce P.O. Box 12728 Austin, Texas 78711 512-320-9561 (voice) 512-320-9544 (fax) UTAH Intermountain Technology Alliance Utah Department of Community & Economic Development 324 South State Street, Suite 500 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-7360 801-538-8858 (voice) 801-538-7360 (fax) VERMONT Vermont Office of the Governor 109 State Street Montpelier, Vermont 05609 802-828-3326 (voice) 802-828-3339 (fax) VIRGINIA Office of Defense Conversion 2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 600 Herndon, Virginia 22070 703-689-3024 (voice) 703-689-3041 (fax) WASHINGTON Department of Trade and Economic Development 101 General Admin.. Bldg.., MS 2500 Olympia, Washington 98504-2500 206-586-0265 (voice) 206-586-8380 (fax) WEST VIRGINIA Business and Industrial Development Office of Community and Industrial Development State Capitol, Bldg.. 6, Rm. B-504 Charleston, WV 25305-0311 304-558-2234 (voice) 2304-558-0449 (fax) WISCONSIN Tech Development Coordinator Bureau of Research and Technology Department of Development P.O. Box 7970 Madison, Wisconsin 53707 608-267-9382 (voice) 608-267-0436 (fax) WYOMING Wyoming Science, Technology, and Energy Authority Ross Hall, Economics Dept., University of Wyoming 16th and Gibbon Laramie, Wyoming 82071 307-766-6797 (voice) 307-766-6799 (fax)
DOE Laboratory Technology Transfer Efforts
| Objective: | To help transfer technology and expertise from DOE labs to private industry. |
| Eligibility: | Any U.S. manufacturer. |
| Cost: | Initial contacts are free; charges may apply for additional services, depending on the lab and the nature of the request. |
| Services: | Technology transfer, cooperative research agreements, counseling, employee exchanges. |
Description
As the focus on defense issue decreases, the Department of Energy's network of nearly 20 national laboratories has stepped up efforts to ease industry's access to new technologies. DOE labs are placing a much greater emphasis on helping manufacturing companies. Each facility offers various services to enhance the movement of technologies from the lab to the marketplace. Activities carried out at three of the larger, more active DOE labs are profiled below. Some of the featured partnership opportunities are available at other laboratory facilities. A list with contacts at all DOE labs is found at the end of this section.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Center for Manufacturing Technology (ORCMT) coordinates all Oak Ridge lab efforts with technology transfer and business development. It offers three basic types of assistance to manufacturers: development and deployment of products and processes; problem solving; and manufacturing skills training. The ORCMT consists of 20 individual centers that focus on specific industries or technology areas. (See chart on page 76.) Its Manufacturing Technology Information Service provides any U.S. manufacturer with as many as 32 hours of free technical consultation. Oak Ridge's Technical Assistance Partnerships initiative also offers up to 32 hours of free technical assistance. Machine tool manufacturers and users can obtain up to ten days of free consulting through the lab's National Machine Tool Partnership. A manufacturer may contact any center by calling Oak Ridge's toll free number, 1-800-356-4USA.
Sandia National Laboratories Technology Transfer Center, with branches at labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California, operates several programs to promote partner ships with private industry. These involve Sandia-developed technologies, processes, and special technical know-how. Sandia transfers technology in a number of different ways via Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), patent and copyright licensing assistance, participa tion in industrial consortia, access of its lab facilities, personnel exchanges, cost-shared contracts, and information dissemination. Businesses with less than 500 employees may ask for short-term technical assistance help. The lab charges for these services, up to $5,000 per request for technical consultation, technical information, or access to specialized or unique facilities needed to evaluate a firm's process or equipment.
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers several technology transfer services, including CRADAs negotiated between Los Alamos and private industry, employee exchanges, site visits, licensing agreements, technical assistance support, access to the national machine tool partnership, counseling, and workshops and seminars. A DOE-inspired Small Business Initiative encourages Los Alamos and other labs to meet the special needs of small companies, by providing those firms with 40 free hours of technical assistance to solve short-term technical programs. Other services available under this initiative include ten days of personnel exchanges and cost-shared partnerships.
Application Process
Application procedures vary from lab to lab, and by type of assistance requested. Manufacturers interested in exploring opportunities or in need of highly specific technical assistance first should contact the technology transfer office at the laboratory with which they wish to work.
Impact
Impact is difficult to measure, given the newness of these efforts by DOE labs. With the end of the Cold War, many labs have begun to redefine their missions by getting more involved in partnerships with commercial firms. The Oak Ridge Center for Manufacturing Technology, for instance, estimates that its assistance, provided to over 2,000 manufacturers, has stimulated $150 million in private-sector activity, creating or saving the equivalent of 3,000 jobs. Los Alamos negotiated more than 20 CRADAs with small companies since the lab launched its Small Business Initiative program in March 1993; more than 700 small businesses have inquired about possible technical assistance services.
Future Prospects
The need for many of the programs operated by DOE labs has been questioned by the President and Congress, as their role in national security has declined with the end of the Cold War. To redefine their missions, many of the labs have been deeply involved in technology transfer efforts and are promising resources for companies interested in high-quality research and problem solving.
Success Stories
1) Chardon Tool and Supply Company of Chardon, Ohio, manufactures diamond-cutting tools for customers around the world. Increasingly, Chardon found itself facing stiffer competition from large international companies as its customers demanded tighter tolerances, as well as verification of the accuracy of a control radius within 10 millionths of an inch. In an attempt to meet its customers' demands, Chardon entered into a partnership with ORCMT through the National Machine Tool Partnership. ORCMT tested Chardon's tools and verified that the control radius was within the tolerances specified by its customers. Chardon now has an agreement with ORCMT to verify the tolerances on a regular basis. This arrangement helped Chardon retain two jobs, create two additional ones, and increase sales in 1994 by approximately $50,000.
2) Montana Custom Saddle Trees removes animal hair from hides in the process of producing rawhide. The traditional method, which uses a sodium sulfide-lime combination, produces residue with a PH of 13, which is higher than the 12.5 PH now required by EPA standards. Needing to identify a new method, the company contacted Los Alamos National Lab, which recommended the use of boric acid. Tests indicated that a boric acid process reduces the PH factor to acceptable levels. As a result of this advice, Montana Custom Saddle Trees stayed in business, and eliminated the approximately $4,000 monthly cost of disposing hazardous waste. Since then, two other firms engaged in the same process have decided to switch to the boric acid method.
Contacts
Manufacturers interested in activities at the Department of Energy labs should contact the lab with which they are interested in working. A list of the major DOE labs and contact points follows.
DOE Laboratories AMES LABORATORY Iowa State University Office of Research and Technology Applications 119 O&L Building Ames, Iowa 50011 515-294-2635 (voice) 515-294-3751 (fax) ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY Industrial Technology Development Center 9700 South Cass Ave, Bldg. 900 Argonne, Illinois 60439 800-627-2596 708-252-5361 (voice) 708-252-5230 (ax) BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY Office of Technology Transfer, Bldg.. 902C Upton, New York 11973 516-282-7338 (voice) 516-282-3729 (fax) CONTINUOUS ELECTRON BEAM ACCELERATOR Superconducting Radiofrequency Technology Department 12000 Jefferson Avenue Newport News, Virginia 23606 804-249-7450 (voice) 804-249-7658 (fax) FERMI NATIONAL ACCELERATOR LAB Office of Research & Technology Applications P.O. Box 500, Mail Stop 200 Batavia, Illinois 60510 708-840-3333 (voice) 708-840-8752 (fax) HANFORD SITE Westinghouse Hanford Company International Environmental Institute P.O. Box 1970, B2-24 Richland, Washington 99352 509-376-8656 (voice) 509-372-2454 (fax) IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY Office of Research and Technology Applications P.O. Box 1625 Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415 208-526-2883 (voice) 208-526-0876 (fax) LAWRENCE BERKELEY LABORATORY University of California Technology Transfer Department Building 90-1070 Berkeley, California 94720 510-486-6461 (fax) 510-423-8988 (fax) LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY Industrial Partnership Center P.O. Box 1663, Mail Stop M899 Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 505-665-9090 (voice) 505-665-0184 (fax) MORGANTOWN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER Technology Transfer Program Division P.O. Box 880 Morgantown, West Virginia 26507 304-291-4173 (voice) 304-291-4403 (fax) NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LAB Technology Transfer Office 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401 303-231-1198 (voice) 303-231-1997 (fax) OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology P.O. Box 2009 Bldg.. 9737, MS 8091 Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8091 800-356-4USA Oak Ridge National Laboratory Office of Technology Transfer Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 615-576-6349 (voice) 615-574-1011 (fax) PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORY Office of Research & Technology Application P.O. Box 999 Richland, Washington 99352 509-375-2789 (voice) 509-375-6731 (fax) PITTSBURGH ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER Office of Research and Development P.O. Box 10940 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236 412-892-6029 (voice) 412-892-4152 (fax) PRINCETON PLASMA PHYSICS LABORATORY Office of Technology Transfer James Forrestal Campus P.O. Box 451 Princeton, New Jersey 08543 609-243-3009 (voice) 609-243-2800 (fax) SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES California Technology Transfer 8800 P.O. Box 969 Livermore, CA 94551 800-294-TEKT 505-294-2678 (voice) 505-294-3422 (fax) Technology Transfer Applications Department 4201 P.O. Box 5800 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 505-271-7822 (voice) 505-271-7856 (fax) SAVANNAH RIVER TECHNOLOGIES Savannah Rive Technology Center Westinghouse Savannah River Company P.O. Box 616, Building 770-A Aiken, South Carolina 29801 800-228-3843 803-725-3020 (voice) 803-725-5377 (fax) STANFORD LINEAR ACCELERATOR CENTER Office of Technology Transfer P.O. Box 4349 Stanford, California 94309 415-926-2213 (voice) 415-926-4999 (fax)
National and Regional Technology Transfer Centers
| Objective: | To disseminate technology and information findings from NASA research to private industry. |
| Eligibility: | Any U.S. company. |
| Cost: | No initial costs for services. |
| Services: | Technology-related information. |
Description
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has established a network of technology transfer centers to give private industry information about and access to the more than 27,000 technical innovations stemming from the space program. The National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) is located in Wheeling, West Virginia, and six Regional Technology Transfer Centers (RTTCs) are located around the U.S. The NTTC operates the Gateway Service, which provides callers, free of charge, with person-to-person contacts in the federal laboratory system. The Gateway Service has fielded requests in a wide range of areas, including materials, computer and information systems, biotechnology, agriculture, transportation, energy and environmental innovations, electronics, and defense-related R&D with commercial applications. Gateway Service agents may be reached weekdays between 8:30 AM and 8:00 PM (eastern time).
The NTTC also offers Business Gold, a 24-hour, free, on-line electronic bulletin board service that features:
In addition to Business Gold and the Gateway Service, NTTC offers other services, such as:
The NTTC makes necessary referrals to the six RTTCs located in: Pittsburgh; Cleveland; Los Angeles; Westborough, Massachusetts; College Station, Texas; and Alachua, Florida. Specific services offered by each RTTC vary, but typically the centers help companies by providing customized services for licensing and by addressing other technology commercialization needs. In order to ease the transfer of available technology to private industry, each RTTC is linked closely with federal laboratories and agencies. In addition, RTTCs offer other services similar to those available through the NTTC, including needs assessment, referrals, and research assistance.
Application Process
There is no conventional application procedure. To receive assistance, a manufacturer simply contacts either the NTTC in Wheeling, West Virginia, or any of the six RTTCs.
Impact
The program has helped many industrial, educational, and government organizations develop new products, increase productivity, and reduce costs. In the past year, the NTTC and its six affiliated centers fielded more than 200,000 requests for information.
Success Stories
1) The Federal Products Company (FPC) of Providence, Rhode Island, manufactures dimensional measuring equipment for the machine tool, aircraft, automotive, and general metalworking industries. Two years ago, FPC began developing a new product, known as a linear displacement sensor. The project, however, was stymied by a technology gap, and the sensor's development stalled. A senior company official called the NTTC after reading about it in a magazine. An NTTC agent initiated a data base search, which identified the needed technology within the federal laboratory system. Using NTTC contacts, FPC technicians learned more about the technology by visiting the NIST lab in Boulder, Colorado, and the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Eventually, FPC and the naval lab signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) that provided R&D support for the new sensor.
2) E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc. (EAFI), of Export, Pennsylvania, manufactures systems that prepare samples for analysis under an electron microscope. When EAFI staff called NTTC in November 1992, they were having technical problems developing a new product known as an ion mill, which was to thin specimens so they could be seen under the microscope. NTTC referred the company to several federal labs, including Lawrence Berkeley in California, where EAFI eventually received the help it needed to develop an ion mill. Nearly every week for six months, a Lawrence Berkeley scientist spoke with his counterpart at EAFI, guiding the company through the crucial stages of product development. EAFI's president estimated that every hour spent on the phone with Berkeley saved ten hours of his company's own lab time. Eventually, EAFI built five prototypes of the ion mill, with an eye towards future marketing of the device. Once commercialization begins, EAFI's president believes the company's overall sales could double.
Future Prospects
In fiscal 1995, the program received $27.8 million in funding. While appropriations for fiscal 1996 have yet to be decided, the program boasts strong congressional support and seems secure.
Contacts
Companies can contact NTTC or any of the six RTTCs directly or via their bulletin board or internet addresses. The address and phone numbers follow.
NTTC Bulletin Board
304-243-2560
log in as "guest;" no password required
for help, call 304-243-2551
Internet Addresses
Telnet: iron.nttc.edu, log in "guest"
Ftp: iron.nttc.edu, log in "anonymous"
Gopher: iron.nttc.edu
WWW: http://www.nttc.edu/nttc.html
National Technology Transfer Center
Wheeling Jesuit College
316 Washington Avenue
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003
1-800-678- 6882 (Gateway Service)
Regional Technology Transfer Centers
Mid-Atlantic RTTC
University of Pittsburgh
823 William Pitt Union
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
412- 648-7000 (voice)
412-648-7003 (fax)
Center for Technology Commercialization
Massachusetts Technology Park
100 North Drive
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
508-870-0042 (voice)
Mid-Continent Technology Transfer Center
The Texas A&M University System
College Station, Texas 77843-3401
800-472-6785 (voice)
409-845-8762 (voice)
409-845-3559 (fax)
Great Lakes Technology Transfer Center
25000 Great Northern Corporate Center, Suite 260
Cleveland, Ohio 44070-5310
216-734-0094 (voice)
Southern Technology Application Center
University of Florida
College of Engineering
Box 24, One Progress Boulevard
Alachua, Florida 32615
904-462-3913 (voice)
University of Southern California
3716 South Hope Street, Suite 200
Los Angeles, California 90007-4344
213-743-6132 (voice)
213-746-9043 (fax)
Advanced Technology Program (ATP)
| Objective: | To support industry in pursuing high-risk, and potentially high-payoff, technologies. |
| Eligibility: | Any U.S.-owned business or industry-led venture. |
| Cost: | Single-company applicants must cover all indirect costs; joint ventures must provide more than 50 percent of total project costs in matching funds. |
| Services: | Cost-sharing grants for technology research. |
Description
The Advanced Technology Program (ATP), administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), was created to allow American companies to explore promising technologies that they might otherwise be unable to pursue independently because of high costs and high risk of failure. Awards are made only to firms or partnerships investigating generic, "enabling technologies" that possess a wide variety of potential commercial applications; funds are not given for any type of product development. Individual firms may receive up to $2 million, which can be used only for direct R&D costs, over as much as a three-year period. Awards to joint ventures, which must be matched by the joint venture itself, can last up to five years and are constrained only by the amount of overall funds appropriated to the ATP by Congress. Awards have ranged from $500,000 to over $20 million.
The ATP's key aspect is that it focuses on technological pursuits with risks too high to attract sufficient private investment, but which nonetheless possess significant potential for the creation of new commercial products. Projects with higher probabilities for success and more certainty are left for the private sector to pursue on its own. In this way, the ATP extends the scope of U.S. commercial technological research. Indeed, the program is expected to have a relatively high rate of failure because its purpose is to encourage research that is too high risk for industry to pursue by itself.
Another feature of the ATP is its long-term outlook; projects generally run from three to five years. Businesses often are reluctant to engage in expensive, high-risk research, particularly when the payoffs are years away. The ATP is designed to encourage firms to perform research that they might otherwise reject in favor of more short-term endeavors. Since ATP awards support only pre-product R&D, there is an additional period after the program ends in which firms must pursue product development on their own.
In addition to sharing at least half of the R&D costs, participating companies provide most of the technical knowledge and other resources needed for a project. Award recipients are allowed to patent inventions, although in most cases the government will reserve a non-exclusive license for usage of whatever technologies or materials result from a project.
Application Process
ATP solicits proposals via announcements in the Commerce Business Daily that specify periods during which proposals will be accepted. Unsolicited proposals or proposals that do not meet the ATP's guidelines will not be considered. A proposal preparation kit is available to interested parties. Manufacturers can call the ATP toll-free number, 1-800-ATP-FUND, to request a copy of this kit and to be placed on the mailing list for future solicitations.
Evaluation panels, comprised of business figures and technical experts, consider the different proposals on the basis of technical merit and commercial potential. Specifically, each proposal is evaluated on the following ranked criteria:
After studying the proposals and the recommendations from the technical and business experts, the ATP Source Evaluation Board selects the strongest proposals based on all five selection criteria and designates them "semifinalist proposals." An oral review is scheduled at NIST for each semifinalist proposal. NIST makes the final decisions on awards based on the ranked list provided by the Source Evaluation Board and the available funds.
Applicants may submit more than one proposal. More than 2,000 proposals have been received since the ATP began, of which 276 have received ATP funding (99 joint ventures and 177 single applicants.)
Impact
Since the ATP began funding projects in 1990, it has committed $939 million, while industry has contributed a larger share — $981 million. The economic benefits from ATP-sponsored R&D typically do not begin to show up until several years after the completion of a successful project, and since most ATP projects run for three to five years, the impact of the ATP is just now beginning to be felt. According to ATP officials, early results of the program include: important new technical capabilities in U.S. industry, new commercial opportunities — and some early growth — for U.S. firms based on these new technical capabilities, and a fledgling R&D culture that encourages companies to take advantage of these new markets by teaming with other companies and government.
Success Stories
In the few years since its inception, the ATP already has important technology developments to its credit. Some of these are:
Future Prospects
The program's continuation is uncertain. As of November 1995, Congress does not propose to continue funding for ATP, although existing projects would continue. Contact ATP for updated information.
Contacts
For more information on the Advanced Technology Program, contact the ATP office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Advanced Technology Program
A430 Administration Building
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001
301-975-2636 (voice)
301-926-9524 (fax)
301-975-2273 (ATP Hotline)
Energy-Related Inventions Program (ERIP)
| Objective: | To provide financial assistance to small businesses and independent inventors developing energy-related inventions. |
| Eligibility: | Open to all inventors and small businesses. |
| Cost: | No application fee. |
| Services: | Financial grants and NIST endorsements. |
Description
The Energy-Related Inventions Program (ERIP) is designed to provide federal financial support for new innovations emerging from small businesses and inventors in energy-related industries. Under the program, the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Office of Technology Innovation evaluates submitted proposals for nonnuclear energy inventions on the basis of technical soundness, potential for energy conservation, and economic feasibility. NIST then decides whether or not to recommend the project to the Department of Energy (DOE), which can grant awards for technical support. Grant awards average $85,000 and cannot exceed $100,000.
Although these are small sums of money, many inventors have found that an endorsement from the NIST has helped them gain financing from private investors. An Oak Ridge lab study of ERIP concluded that each dollar of DOE investment in a NIST-recommended project leveraged more than two dollars in private funding.
Application Process
To seek a NIST evaluation, an applicant must contact the Office of Technology Innovation, request an ERIP application kit, and complete the invention evaluation proposal. Typical submissions include: an executive summary, technical description, technical advantages, energy impact, cost and economic considerations, commercial potential, market considerations, and development and/or commercialization requirements. NIST takes about six months to reach a decision and notify the applicant.
NIST's proposal evaluation takes place in two stages. The first involves a relatively brief screening process in which NIST evaluators solicit technical opinions of the invention from a variety of experts in the appropriate fields. Based on these opinions, NIST staffers decide if the invention is technically and economically feasible. If so, the proposal receives a second, more in-depth examination to ensure that it holds sufficient technological and commercial promise.
Proposers winning NIST endorsements participate in a Commercialization Planning Workshop to develop a plan for their invention's eventual commercialization. The applicant then must submit a preliminary written proposal, this time to DOE's Inventions and Innovation Division. This second proposal must explain what kind of support the project requires, the work it will involve, how much it will cost, who will perform the work, and what results are expected. An invention coordinator from DOE reviews the proposal with the inventor and discusses the ways in which the ERIP can support the project. Once a level of support is determined, the inventor must submit a final written proposal to the DOE. Grant awards are made approximately six months after the DOE receives a NIST-endorsed proposal.
Impact
The ERIP has provided more than $41 million in grants to inventors during the 17-year period from 1975 to 1992. An Oak Ridge lab study of 253 recommended inventions found that 129 had entered the market and generated $763 million in sales. NIST receives more than 31,000 proposals a year under ERIP, and recommends between one and three percent to DOE for further consideration.
Success Stories
1) A Colorado Springs inventor was awarded a $56,438 ERIP grant to develop a new type of electrical load management system for automobiles. His invention uses the vehicle's momentum, which usually is wasted, to improve fuel efficiency by causing the alternator to automatically disengage if the car is accelerating. Once the car slows, the alternator re-engages. Studies show that this system improves gas mileage by 10 to 15 percent, while increasing the life expectancy of both the battery and the alternator.
2) An Oklahoma inventor received $75,000 through ERIP to develop the Instant Burger, which can cook in half of minute a meat patty placed between two parallel electrodes. By using the internal resistance of the electrodes to impede the current's flow, Instant Burger raises the temperature to the proper level. Hamburgers cooked this way have been found to contain less fat and harmful compounds than conventionally-cooked patties. In addition, this process saves energy because no preheating is required.
Future Prospects
The program's continuation is uncertain as Congress moves to cut overall Department of Energy funding. Contact ERIP for updated information.
Contact
Any manufacturer or inventor interested in applying to the ERIP need only contact the Office of Technology Innovation at the numbers and addresses below.
Office of Technology Innovation
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001
301-975-5500 (voice)
301-975-3839 (fax)
innovate@enh.nist.gov
Other Technology Development and Transfer Programs
The federal government sponsors numerous programs that provide indirect support to manufacturers by assisting technology development. Manufacturers and those working with them should be aware of the programs listed below. Short descriptions and contact phone numbers are given.
National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment and Economics (NICE3) is a joint cost-sharing grant program between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency. It provides financial assistance to state/industry partnerships for projects that develop and demonstrate advances in energy efficiency and clean production technologies. Industry applicants interested in the program must submit a proposal through their state energy, pollution prevention, or business development offices. Grants must be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the state/industry partnership. Contact: The NICE3 field office at 303-275-4728, or the DOE at 202-586-1641.
The Manufacturing Science & Technology (MS&T) program, formerly ManTech, supports manufacturing technology needs with the objective of ensuring the availability of affordable military equipment. Administered by the Department of Defense (DoD), the program provides financial assistance, through project grants, to organizations in order to encourage the movement of emerging manufacturing technologies to implementation stages. The program supports the Manufacturing Technology Information Analysis Center (MTIAC), which serves as a DoD technology transfer resource for manufacturers. MTIAC collects, analyzes, and disseminates manufacturing technology for the production of defense materials and systems. Contacts: For information on MS&T or MTIAC, call MTIAC at 312-567-4730 or 1-800-421-0586.