Advisor to Bush addresses IAB

Francis Dietz
ASME Government Relations

ASME's Industry Advisory Board wrapped up its spring meeting on April 10 in Washington, D.C., where the group members had gathered to discuss "Technology Mining for Competitive Advantage."

The Industry Advisory Board is comprised of industry executives at or near the CEO level of large and small companies that employ ASME members. The IAB meets twice a year — in the spring and fall. Meetings focus on a range of topics that are of mutual interest to industry and ASME.

The keynote speech was delivered by John H. Marburger, III, who serves as President Bush's science advisor.

Several panel discussions held later on during the meeting focused on these topics: "Tapping Into University Resources," "Accessing Technology in the Federal Laboratory System" and "Intellectual Property Issues in Technology Transfer."

John H. Marburger, III

 

 

In his presentation, Marburger discussed the policies and framework for the transfer of technology from federal laboratories to the private sector. He noted that the concept of technology transfer from government to industry was put into practice only with the passage of the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980.

The Act for the first time allowed licensing of federally sponsored research and development to the private sector. The Act made technology transfer part of the mission of the nation's laboratories.

Marburger stressed that personal, working relationships are key to the success of technology transfer. The companies, large and small, that take the time to cultivate those partnerships are the ones that meet with the most success under the technology transfer program, he said. By contrast, he added, companies that try to mine the federal laboratories for off-the-shelf technologies tend to meet with less success.

During the panel discussion on "Tapping Into University Resources," John Kenyon, senior vice president at Hughes Network Systems, presaged Marburger's remarks by stressing the importance of long-term relationships, not just with university administration but directly with faculty and through student internships.

For details on the Industry Advisory Board and its recent meeting, visit www.asme.org/iab.

 

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