Federal Government Agency Activities in Technology Transfer: An Historical View

摘要

For 200 years the federal government has increased its support to, and involvement with, scientific and technological research and development. In each case, effort was initiated in response to a perceived or expressed need or was otherwise deemed to be in the national interest. Also in each case, the principal thrust of each new initiative was to conduct research in such a manner that the results would be available to American commerce, industry, and the public. Clearly, from the Morrill Act to Stevenson-Wydler, the federal government and its agencies not only have the right, but the responsibility, to take actions leading to the effective transfer of federally-developed technology. These involved with federal technology transfer, or who otherwise follow the issue, are often told that something needs to be done on a national level to transfer federal technology more effectively. With the exceptions of the Agricultural Extension Service and NASA's Technology Utilization Program, emphasis seemed to be on collecting, archiving, and disseminating - a passive federal role. Dissatisfaction with the results of this approach led to pressures for the federal government to assume a more active role. The Stevenson-Wydler Act clearly states that it is part of the mission of each federal agency with research and development programs to actively seek utilization of federally-developed technologies to the widest possible extent. (ERA citation 09:045278)