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

This event will evaluate the current technology transfer capabilities of the National Laboratories and the reforms needed to strengthen commercialization.

Strengthening National Laboratory Commercialization

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 direct NSF to establish stronger university entrepreneurship metrics and use them to provide stronger incentives for commercializing research.

To Do: Direct NSF to Establish Stronger University Entrepreneurship Metrics

Reimagining the National Laboratories

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

Modernizing the National Laboratory System

Congress and the administration should establish a National Advanced Industry and Technology Agency to ensure the United States can compete effectively with China.

To Do: Establish a National Advanced Industry and Technology Agency

While the U.S. government should expand federal support for scientific research, it also should improve the efficiency with which federally funded knowledge creation leads to innovation and jobs.

To Do: Hold the National Labs Accountable for Tech Transfer

Recommendation

Details

Editors’ Recommendations

Turning the Page: Reimagining the National Labs in the 21st Century Innovation Economy

Related

To Do: Support Experimental Approaches to Tech Transfer and Commercialization

Strengthening National Laboratory Commercialization

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