DOCOMEET RESUME ED 174 255 IR 007 539 Federal Laboratory
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DOCOMEET RESUME ED 174 255 IR 007 539 TITLE Federal Laboratory Consortium Resource Directory. INSTITUTION Federal Laboratory Consortium, Washington, D.C. EPONS AGENCY National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C.Office of Intergovernmental Science Programs. PUB DATE Sep 78 CONTRACT NSF-77-C47 NOTE 391p. Erps PRICE MF01/PC16 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Federal Government; *laboratories; Research Prckjects; *Sciences; *Technology: Technology Transfer ABSTRACT Designed to bridge the communication gap between the Federal Laboratory Consortium (PLC) and public andprivate sectors of the country, this directory has been prepared as acompilation cf scientific and technical research and developmentactivities at federal laboratories, which are directing technologytransfer efforts toward increasing the use of their research results bydecision Bakers and operational agencies in the public andprivate sectors. The directory is organized in three parts: Part Icontains a map indicating the various regions of the FLC, analphabetical listing (by abbreviation) of the member laboratories, alist of participating laboratories /contacts by geographic region, and alist of the CCNTAC (Contacts for Technological Area Coordination)laboratories. An alphabetical listing of PLC laboratories provides quick cross reference for the following sections, and a listof CONTAC Laboratories indicates the primary laboratory that maybe contacted for each major application area. Part IIis a rundown of the major application areas and the laboratories with expertisein these areas. Information sheets fnr each laboratory indicatespecific scientific and technological areas of expertise and thecontact person for that facility. Finally, Part TIT provides examples oflaboratory technology transfer projects in a majority of thescientific and technological activities.(Author/JD) ***####*##*#*###*****##*##*###*****#########*##4*******************##*# Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the hest that can bemade from the original document. u********************************************************************* U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN- A TsNOT PCnN TS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE. SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLicv fEDERAL-LAM10010-CONSORTIOA Prepared by the FEDERAL LABORATORY CONSORTIUM WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL SCIENCE AND PUBLICTECHNOLOGY DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION NSF 77-047 DISCLAIMER ItisnottheintentionoftheFederalGovernment, nor theFederalLaboratory Con- sortium (FLC) to compete with industry in the supply of services to state and local governments. Rather, the Consortium encourages partnerships with industry in solving the problems of state and local governments. It is the intention of the Consortium to make its,resources,available to industry as well as to state and local governments and Federal agencies. To the extent that these provide new product orservices opportunitiesfor industryineitherprivateor public markets, industryis encouraged to availthemselves of the Federal R&D resources.Infact, the effective transfer of Federal technology to state and local governments requires that the technology ultimately be available commercially. INTRODUCTION Ournationiscurrentlyfacing a multitude of social and economic problems thatrequire immediate solutions if our standard of living is to remain at its present level. The energy crisis, unemployment, high prices, and many other national conc?,rns, which are equally as meaningful in keeping thisnationstrong, facealllevels of government. An over-abundance in some areas and deficiencies inothers provides the fuel for continued unrest and uneasiness in the minds of many. This country's overpowering craving for the best of everything has created problems that require immediate solutions. Rapid changes inpublic needs and private wants have brought about critical intergovernmental issues. The costs associated with solving these issues is extremely high and, in many instances, requires the use of high technology. Solutions to the nations's many problems must be sought from every available resource; i.e., the '-adenilgovernment, industry and universities. Many solutions can be found through the proper utilization of existing and developing science and technology resources. During the past decade we have invested billions of dollars inresearch and development (R&D). A significant portion of this R&D was accomplished by the laboratories of the federal government. These laboratories represent a source of technology that,. when properly mobilized, could possibly provide the solutions to manyof our nation's problems. Thereare many reasons which, when combined, providetherationaleforusingfederal laboratories asatechnicalresource. One predominates: access to existing technologies,facilities, equipment, etc., for use by state and local governments to help solve the nation's problems represents agreater return onthetaxpayer's investment inscience and technology through more effective primary and secondary use ' . :.D results. State and local governments are aware that many of their problems can only be solved through use of science and technology. However, state and local government agencies cannot afford toinvest large sums in R&D and, therefore, itis not a high priority item in their budgets. Federal government laboratories may not have the technology needed by these government agencies to solvealltheir problems, but substantialpublic investment in R&D has produced technologies that could, with suitable adaptation, fill important gaps. If federal technology can increase the productivity of state and local government, industry can also benefit by serving as the continuing commercial supplier to state ar,d local governments. The federal laboratories are presently accountable to many federal government agencies. There is noformalintegratingmaragementsystemwithinthefederallaboratoriestoensurethatthe technologytransfer and utilization processiscoordinated and productive. Thereis, however, an I informal Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer which, todate, consists of more than180 of thelargestfederal government laboratories and centers from a numberof high technologyagencies.TheDivision of IntergovernmentalScience and Public Technology of the National Science Foundation and the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, areproviding resources which make possible operation of a Secretariat in support of Consortiumactivities. Although there are many definitions of technology transfer withinthe Federal Laboratory Consort'um, technology transfer is generally described as the processby which existing knowledge. facilities,or capabilities developed under federal R&Dfunding are transferred to fulfill actual or potential public or private needs. The purpose of the Consortium isto increase the use of these laboratories' unique technical expertise and R&D products toward the solutions of problemsfacing our government agencies and privateindustries.This technologytransfer program emphasizes person-to-person communications between theusers and suppliers inthe civilian sector and the resource people inthefederal laboratories. The development of a well-organized information system and thecontinuous involvement of the users and suppliers in the problem definition and transfer processalong with discrete use of linkingagents,or technology transfer "brokers",to bridge the communication gapbetween re- searchers and users represents the core program activity. It is planned to update this Resource Directory annually. If recipients do not receivetheir updates, they should contact: 41 George F. Linsteadt Naval Weapons Center Code 3203 China Lake, CA 93555 2 HOW THE FEDERAL LABORATORY CONSORTIUM CAN HELP YOU Within the Federal Laboratory Consortium, technology transfer is accomplished in a varietyof ways. One approach isinthe form of performing civilian-oriented R&D work by one of the DoD Consortium laboratories with funding provided by the requesting institution such as federal, state or local government agencies. These R&D projects are directed towards application tocivilian problems. but the solutions are based upon earlier research performed for mission-oriented purposes.Thus, the American taxpayer derives double benefit from the military R&D expenditure.Other members of the Consortium,such as DOE or EPA,are chartered and funded to specifically work inthe civilian area. Therefore, they are directing their technology transfer effortstoward increasing the use of their research results by decision makers and operational agencies in the public and private sectors. In addition to performing R&D activities and pushing for greater use of theirR&D products. the Consortium transfers its technology in other ways. Consortium representatives assist stateand local government agencies in a variety of non-refundable ways, such as serving onscientific advisory boards, acting as consultants to specialized groups (e.g., law enforcement, pollution control agencies orfirepreventioncommittees),providinglibraryservicesandidentifyingsourcesofsurplus government equipment. One major service provided by the Consortiumisin the area of brokerage. Because of the nature of these activities, the Consortium repieset.catives are frequentlyexposed to new technologies developedbyprivateenterprise,stateor localgovernments,or by another federal laboratory. Therefore, these