FORUM UPDATES RESEARCHERS ON WHAT'S NEW IN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Technology Transfer Department Head, and FLC Representative, Cheryl Fragiadakis recently presented an overview of current technology transfer issues at a forum held at LBL. Among the topics covered at the meeting were trends in federal funding for technology transfer, policy and personnel changes in DOE, government funding vs. industry partnerships, technology transfer programs under siege, and the proposed Morella Bill, which is aimed at improving access to national laboratories.

According to an AAAS analysis of the House-proposed balanced budget plan, Fragiadakis said, U.S. funding for science could drop one-third by the year 2002. Projections indicate a downward spiral for most agencies. Funding for technology transfer in DOE has taken big hits.

At the same time, national laboratories continue to receive mixed messages from Congress. "Set-aside" funding programs are under fire. DOD's Technology Reinvestment Program and DOC's Advanced Technology Program are threatened with extinction. Yet both houses of Congress recently passed similar versions of the Technology Transfer Improvement Act of '95 (Morella Bill, which was recently signed by President Clinton).

The Technology Transfer Department goal is to increase alternative funding. To strengthen its marketing to industry and meet the challenges of reduced funding, Technology Transfer Department now works in teams with LBL researchers in the negotiation of non-disclosure, materials transfer, and licensing agreements; co-sponsorship of workshops; project management for work with private industry; and development and implementation of industry marketing programs.

For more information about technology transfer at LBL, contact Steve Hunter at (510) 486-6467; fax: (510) 486-6457; email: slhunter@lbl.gov.

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