Developing Effective Communications with the National Laboratories to Identify Commercial Applications

Abstract

Now that the Cold War appears to have ended, there is a golden opportunity for researchers in our national laboratory system to help American companies regain their competitive edge in the world economy. This can be done by aggressively improving the two-way communication between scientists and potential technology-transfer recipients. Communication and technology transfer can occur if there is a proper focus of the research effort which begins with the establishment of an ultimate public-sector goal. When such a goal is established, private business needs can be mapped into the goal, followed by an inventory of underlying technologies and sciences that can contribute to meeting the short and long term objectives supporting the goal.