Technology transfer: it’s the law Published July 21, 2014 By Dr. James Solti U.S. Air Force Academy Research Office U.S. AIR FORCE ACADMY, Colo. -- This summer, the Academy's Research Office is developing and implementing a formal technology transfer program to allow industry partners better access to cadet and faculty research technologies and capabilities. As phase one of this paradigm shift unfolds, we'd like to provide you a sneak peak at our blueprints. Keep in mind, the ultimate goal is to enhance the cadet experience by fostering opportunities and resources contributing to their leadership development. The crux of the T2 mission hinges on the belief it manifests benefits to the national economy and society as a whole. For these reasons, T2 is now part of federal law. Most recently, a presidential memorandum, "Accelerating Technology Transfer and Commercialization of Federal Research," required federal laboratories to shift technology from labs to the commercial sector. Congress weighed-in as well, in a variety of Defense Department policy directives and federal legal requirements. As a federal research laboratory, the Academy has a statutory requirement to engage in T2 to commercialize research products and technology. Going forward, the Academy's T2 program embraces this philosophy and engages all authorities we have to work with: licenses, partner intermediaries, commercial testing and collaboration with other educational institutions. Our intention is to connect with you -- the researcher, the innovator, the entrepreneur. An entrepreneurial mindset is a world view anyone can aspire to and entrepreneurship is necessary to promulgate technology into the private sector. Technology transfer and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand. In the early 1980s, Congress recognized encouraging entrepreneurs could assist those who wanted to solve problems, but who might not have access to the necessary resources to make their vision a reality. Federal T2 legislation opened the doors of federal and national laboratories so business-minded people can seize the technology available there and create new products, new businesses and new jobs. The concept of T2 left Congress with great fanfare and began buzzing around communities. Small business owners, investors and inventors teemed with joy when they heard the news, at least until they realized the doors were not actually open wide, but federal lab directors had only been told to crack the seal. Fast-forward 28 years and federal laboratory directors across the nation embrace T2 and fully execute their role to ensure T2 is part of doing business in a federal laboratory. They've created key personnel positions, established in Office of Research and Technology, to prepare application assessments for selected research and development projects which might have potential commercial applications. In 2010, Congress recognized the importance of generating new ideas, innovations and concepts by passing the America Invents Act. Now, T2 has matured from the concept of tossing widgets over the fence to that of creating federated partnerships focused on innovation and economic development. Our role in Air Force T2 is unique since most of our inventions and intellectual property are created by cadets. Taking advantage of the new "First-to-File" rule under the America Invents Act, cadets and faculty alike are completing invention disclosures. Businesses can license some of our technologies immediately; under Air Force policy, this means the licensee will pay royalties to the inventor and the laboratory for use of the technology. Inventors get the first $2,000 and up to $150,000 per year. Rewarding inventors is the key driver in promulgating an innovative, entrepreneurial culture. Focused laboratories build infrastructure, process and partners moving capabilities to industry for commercialization; those without the necessary partnerships tend to forget T2 is the law. At the Academy, we're on track for a very successful couple of years, thanks to our recently granted authority to partner with an intermediary. Our reach will stretch further and technology can reach the community in real time, as needs arise. The doors of the Academy's federal lab are wide open. Research centers host tours for hundreds of visitors each year. Many of these face-to-face meetings result in collaborative research efforts. Since 2001, USAFA has been using these opportunities for T2 under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements signed by the dean of the faculty. For qualified companies, grants are available to advance research in specific areas of interest to the public and the Air Force. These T2 collaborations with USAFA became a reality in 2001 when our contracting office was granted authority to enter into cooperative agreements. The entrepreneurial value of cadet capability and inventions are available to the community. Inventive thinking leveraging these assets is what entrepreneurs do. Federal laboratories with resources hold open the door.