Congress should fund a pilot program supporting experimental approaches to technology transfer and commercialization, and the administration should require labs to collect metrics, identify barriers, and hold labs accountable. 

To Do: Support Experimental Approaches to Tech Transfer and Commercialization

The administration should expand the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, which fosters entrepreneurship that can lead to the commercialization of technology that has been supported previously through NSF-funded research.

To Do: Expand NSF’s I-Corps Program

To Do: Expand NSF's I-Corps Program

Congress should allocate a share of federal research funding to promote technology transfer and commercialization, such as through a “Spurring Commercialization of Our Nation’s Research” program.

Partly Done: Allocate a Share of Federal Research Funding to Tech Transfer and Commercialization

Congress should mandate the creation of a traded-sector analysis unit to assess key indicators of overall U.S. competitiveness performance and develop strategic policy roadmaps for key traded sectors.

To Do: Create a Traded-Sector Analysis Unit Within the Federal Government

Congress should hold the National Labs to stronger performance standards for tech transfer to firms in the United States.

To Do: Hold the National Labs Accountable for Tech Transfer

Congress should increase funding for the Engineering Research Center (ERC) program to $100 million per year, and increase funding for the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) program to $50 million per year.

To Do: Increase Funding for the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Programs

To Do: Increase Funding for the National Science Foundation's Engineering Programs

Congress should create global knowledge investment zones to attract foreign direct investment. 

To Do: Create Global Knowledge Investment Zones

Congress should increase the share of industry representatives on the National Science Board as part of national innovation and competitiveness legislation.

To Do: Increase the Share of Industry Representatives on the National Science Board

The National Science Foundation should offer grants to several universities that put forward the best proposals for degrees in industrial policy.

To Do: Direct NSF to Establish Stronger University Entrepreneurship Metrics

Recommendation

Details

Editors’ Recommendations

Fifty Ways to Leave Your Competitiveness Woes Behind: A National Traded-Sector Competitiveness Strategy

Related

To Do: Support Experimental Approaches to Tech Transfer and Commercialization

To Do: Expand NSF’s I-Corps Program

Partly Done: Allocate a Share of Federal Research Funding to Tech Transfer and Commercialization