tech transfer

The report seeks to inform policy makers and
encourage Federal lab tech transfer to ensure the U.S. remains ahead globally in technological innovation. For each department, there is a summary
tabulation of technology transfer activity statistics, background on the agency’s technology transfer programs, and discussion of the agencies’ case examples.

The report assesses the status of technology transfer by the Federal labs in order to inform policymakers, facilitate feedback and discussion, and help to encourage Federal labs in their technology transfer efforts.

The General Accounting Office discloses that in fiscal year 2001, nine federal agencies created 3,676 new inventions, issued 1,585 patents and received $74.5 million in licensing revenues. The study argues that the federal laboratories and research facilities associated with the nine federal agencies can serve as a treasure chest of technologies for commercialization. Two recommendations are given for federal agencies to help with implementing the Technology Transfer Act of 2002.

The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that allow firms to benefit from knowledge developed in universities and government labs or that drive them to collaborate with these institutions. The study focuses on the economic determinants of collaboration and knowledge sourcing from universities and government labs, factors such as size, group membership, degree of innovativeness, growth and government support.

The tenth annual licensing survey by the Association of University Technology Managers indicates more than $1.26 billion in royalties were collected by U.S. colleges and universities in FY 2000. The survey also reported 347 new products were introduced to market and at least 454 spin-off companies were created by the institutions, where inventors filed for more than 8,500 U.S. patents.

The report outlines factors that have contributed to a recent decline in the number of cooperative research and development agreements that the Department of Energy national laboratories have entered into with businesses, universities and other partners. The report includes several statistical tables showing tech transfer activities at the 12 labs for the past decade.

The paper examines three academic institutions that have been the leading recipients of licensing and royalty income for much of the 1990s to show that the Bayh-Dole Act itself has had little impact on the content of academic research.

The paper suggests that more empirical and statistical research is needed to determine whether or not increased emphasis on intellectual property rights is achieving the desired results. The team’s current work stems from initial research questioning some of the commonly held beliefs about the impact of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which made it easier for universities to retain title to inventions resulting from government-funded research.

The U.S. General Accounting Office report finds that the Department of Energy has reduced the use of cooperative research and development agreements by more than 90 percent while increasing the number of agreements fully funded by private partners. DOE has also cut the provision of technical assistance to small businesses by more than 70 percent.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation report indicates that Michigan is performing at the level of the national average in tech transfer. The report holds that Michigan is an improving top-tier commercialization state, using statistics and measurements to create benchmarks in the areas of tech transfer and entrepreneurial activity.