Technology transfer

Definition
Technology transfer is

{{Quote|the process by which technology, knowledge and/or information developed in one organization, for one purpose is applied and utilized in another organization, in another area, for another reason.

Overview
Technology transfer is a complex topic that has various meanings to different audiences.

Technology transfer can have different meanings in different situations. In some instances, it refers to the transfer of legal rights, such as the assignment of patent title to a contractor or the licensing of a government-owned patent to a private firm. In other cases, the transfer endeavor involves the informal movement of information, knowledge, and skills through person-to-person interaction. The crucial aspect in a successful transfer is the actual use of the product or process. Without this, the benefits from more efficient and effective provision of goods and services are not achieved.

To industry it could mean loss of proprietary technical information to a competitor or the licensing of a new technology which could be used to increase productivity or introduce a new product. To the military or the state department, it could be connected with helping an ally to introduce advanced weapon systems for cooperative defense; but is more likely to be construed as meaning the loss of a national security-sensitive technology to a potential adversary via espionage or a breach in security.

For government entities, this could mean:


 * Use of technology from outside the government for a government purpose (technology infusion)
 * The movement of technology developed by one government agency to use in another (technology transfusion), or
 * The movement of technology from the government to the private sector (technology diffusion). When applied to American business and industry, this is most commonly known as domestic technology transfer.

Because federal laboratory R&D is generally undertaken to meet an agency’s mission or because there are insufficient incentives for private sector research that the government deems in the national interest, decisions reflect public sector, rather than commercial needs. Thus, transfer often depends on attempts to ascertain commercial applications of technologies developed for government use &mdah; "technology push" &mdash; rather than on "market pull." In other words, a technology is developed and a use for it established because the expertise exists rather than because it is perceived to be needed.

Technology Transfer to Private Sector: Federal Interest
The federal interest in the transfer of technology from government laboratories to the private sector is based on several factors. The government requires certain goods and services to operate. Much of the research it funds is directed at developing the knowledge and expertise necessary to formulate these products and processes. However, the government has neither the mandate nor the capability to commercialize the results of the federal R&D effort. Technology transfer is a mechanism to get federally-generated technology and technical know-how to the business community where it can be developed, commercialized, and made available for use by the public sector.

Federal involvement in technology transfer also arises from an interest in promoting the economic growth that is vital to the nation’s welfare and security. It is through further development, refinement, and marketing that the results of research become diffused throughout the economy and can generate growth. It is widely accepted that technological progress is responsible for up to one-half the growth of the U.S. economy and is the principal driving force in long-term economic growth and increases in our standard of living. Economic benefits of a technology or technique accrue when a product, process, or service is brought to the marketplace where it can be sold or used to increase productivity. When technology transfer is successful, new and different products or processes become available to meet or induce market demand. Transfer from the federal laboratories can result in substantial increases in employment and income generated at the firm level.

Cooperation with the private sector provides a means for federal scientists and engineers to obtain state-of-the-art technical information from the industrial community, which in various instances is more advanced than that available in the government. Technology transfer is also a way to assist companies that have been dependent on defense contracts and procurement to convert to manufacturing for the civilian, commercial marketplace. Successful efforts range from advances in the commercial aviation industry, to the development of a new technology for use in advanced ceramics, to the evolution of the biotechnology sector.

Technology Transfer to State and Local Governments: Rationale for Federal Activity
The increasing demands on state and local governments to provide improved goods and services have been accompanied by a recognition that expanded technological expertise can help meet many of these needs. The transfer of technology and technical knowledge from government laboratories to state and local jurisdictions can allow for additional use of ideas and inventions that have been funded and created through federal R&D. Intergovernmental technology transfer can also help state and local officials meet responsibilities imposed by federal legislation.

As state and local governments increasingly look for technological solutions, the concept of “public technology” &mdash; the adaptation and utilization of new or existing technology to public sector needs &mdash; has emerged. The application of technology to State and local services is a complex and intricate procedure. In transferring technology from the federal laboratories, the application often can be direct. At other times, alterations in technical products and processes may be necessary for application in the state and local environment. However, this “adaptive engineering” generally is not extensive or expensive and can be accomplished by federal laboratory and state and local personnel working together.

State and local government concerns with regional economic growth also have focused attention on technology transfer as a mechanism to increase private sector innovation related activities within their jurisdiction. In order to develop and foster an entrepreneurial climate, many states and localities are undertaking the support of programs that assist high technology businesses, and that often use the federal laboratory system. State and local efforts to develop “incubator centers” for small companies may rely on cooperation with federal laboratories, which supply technical expertise to firms locating at the center. Other larger programs to promote innovation in the state, such as the Ben Franklin Partnership in Pennsylvania, use the science and technology resources of federal personnel. Additional programs have been created involving state universities, private companies, and the federal laboratories, with each program geared to the specific needs and desires of the participating parties.

Current Federal Efforts to Promote Technology Transfer
Over the years, several federal efforts have been undertaken to promote the transfer of technology from the federal government to state and local jurisdictions and to the private sector. The primary law affording access to the federal laboratory system is the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, as amended by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act, the 1990 Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization Act, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY1991, the Technology Transfer Improvements and Advancement Act, and the Technology Transfer Commercialization Act.