National Research Council (NRC) Finds Public-Private Partnerships Crucial for Tech Development

Public-private partnerships involving cooperative research and development activities among industry, universities and government laboratories can play a key role in speeding new technology from the concept stage to the marketplace, argues a new report conducted by the National Research Council (NRC). The Council’s Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy analyzed two major innovation and award programs, the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) and the Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) program, in preparing the NRC report.

Government-Industry Partnerships for the Development of New Technologies considers how partnerships, representing a way to improve innovation output in the U.S., can lead to benefits such as new products, new processes and new knowledge. The report states, "Partnerships facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge to real products… (They) help by bringing innovations to the point where private actors can introduce them to the market."

Successful partnerships such as ATP and the SBIR program, NRC notes, are characterized by a variety of factors: industry initiation and leadership, public commitments that are limited and defined, clear objectives, cost sharing, and learning through sustained evaluations of measurable outcomes. Partnerships like these, being diverse in structure, mechanisms and goals, also demonstrate a proficiency to apply the lessons learned to program operations.

Not all partnerships bearing these characteristics will be successful, however. The Council cautions, "Indeed, the high risk–high payoff nature of innovation research and development assures some disappointment."

The NRC report also includes analysis of the SEMATECH consortium and science and technology parks associated with the NASA Ames Research Center and Sandia National Laboratories.

The study offers four key policy recommendations:

* "Regular and rigorous program-based evaluations and feedback is essential for effective partnerships and should be a standard feature."

* "Learning from competitive and comparative experiences in the global economy is also vital for effective U.S. policy on partnerships and foreign policies and programs should be regularly assessed."

* "Partnerships should be embarked on a case-by case basis and should draw, where applicable, on previous experience."

And,

* "Strengthening public support for research in physics, chemistry, mechanical and electrical engineering, and materials science and engineering should be a national priority."

The Council is a part of The National Academies as one of several private, nonprofit institutions that provides science, technology and health policy advice under a congressional charter. The summary report is available to read online at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10584.html

Alternately, copies of the 150+ page Government-Industry Partnerships for the Development of New Technologies can be ordered from SSTI for $26.95 plus shipping and handling.

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Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2003. Information in this issue of SSTI Weekly Digest was prepared under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged — please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected. Any opinions expressed in the Digest do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Commerce.