Advisory board recommends ways ASME can bridge issues of tech transfer and intellectual property

Management of technology transfer and resources was the focus of ASME's Industry Advisory Board spring meeting during April in Washington, D.C.

Following each panel presentation on "Technology Mining for Competitive Advantage," the IAB members discussed ASME's role as a liaison between commercial companies looking to solve a problem and universities or federal laboratories that developed technologies that could offer the solution.

From that discussion, the IAB recommended several courses of action for ASME to take. The IAB's recommendations are:

Recommendation 1 — ASME should consider developing a technology-based, economic development clearinghouse to bridge common areas between academia, government and industry.

Specifically, ASME should consider exploring a partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and other organizations, such as the Industrial Research Institute. That partnership would provide resources for industry, academia and government to identify and match research needs and capabilities, develop best practices for technology transfer, and assess intellectual property valuation and issues.

Recommendation 2 — ASME should continue to keep members informed and energized about opportunities in new, emerging technologies by initiating publications on new, emerging technologies and producing special educational sessions on specific new technology research.

ASME should also publish success stories on academia-industry partnerships and university activity. The Society should also develop technology-specific chat rooms focused on new technology sectors.

Recommendation 3 — Federal labs have tremendous research capabilities and resources and, in partnership with industry and academia, can be a technology gateway. ASME should strive to educate its members more fully on these opportunities and promote the philosophy of industry-lab collaboration.

Specifically, the Society should consider educating members about the Small Business Innovation Research program — what it is, how to access grant-writing education, and networking.

ASME should also name a high-level spokesperson to work as an ambassador for the capabilities of federal lab technology transfer.

In that regard, ASME should also identify the areas of technology that are being pursued by federal labs and make database information accessible to members.

ASME should establish a mini venture capital fund that would support members-only projects directed at developing new technology or testing new applications.

Recommendation 4 — The knowledge base and needs of ASME members on the topic of intellectual property issues associated with technology transfer should be set forth. To educate such a diverse constituency, ASME should publish articles in Mechanical Engineering magazine on tech transfer/intellectual property issues. ASME should also publish publications about tech transfer/intellectual property issues, and sponsor sessions on the topic for small companies, as well as provide a basic introduction to the issue.

ASME should also sponsor a university/federal lab showcase/poster session at each ASME International Congress.

The Society should also organize tech transfer sessions at the Congress, Mechanical Engineering Department Heads meetings, and other ASME conferences.

ASME should also provide templates to engineers and entrepreneurs that could be used as a starting point for negotiations with companies that are interested in the transfer of their technology.

For more information about the IAB, visit www.asme.org/iab.

 

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