Success Factors for High Impact National Laboratory Technology Transfer
Michael J. PaulusDirector of Technology Transfer
March 6, 2013
2 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
The Clinton Pile was the world’s first continuously operated nuclear reactor
Oak Ridge National Laboratory evolved from the Manhattan Project
Chemical processing techniques were developed to separate
plutonium from irradiated fuel
3 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Following World War II, the Manhattan Project facilities evolved into the national laboratories
Oak Ridge
Los Alamos
LawrenceBerkeley
ArgonneBrookhaven
Ames
President Harry Truman signing the Atomic Energy Act on August 1,
1946
• Capitalize on the extraordinary scientific and technical capabilities assembled for the war effort
• Continue nuclear R&D with a focus on peaceful use
• Focus on big science: unclassified fundamental research on a scale beyond the reach of a single university or industry
4 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Typically the result of sustained goal-driven programs
After World War II, the national laboratories made significant contributions
Nuclear power
Nuclear medicine
National defense
Biomedical research
Materials Science
Ion implantation
5 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
The nation’s post-war momentum began to fade in the late 1970s
6 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
"A wealth of scientific talent at American colleges and universities – talent responsible for the development of numerous innovative scientific breakthroughs each year – is going to waste as a result of bureaucratic red tape and illogical government regulations..."
— Senator Birch Bayh
7 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
This proposed legislation is one of the most radical, far-reaching and blatant giveaways that I have seen in the many years that I have been a member of the United States Senate.
— Senator Russell Long
8 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
In November, 1980, Senator Dan Quayle defeated Senator Bayh in a national Republican landslide
9 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
On December 12, 1980, a lame duck president signed a bill from a lame duck congress sponsored by a defeated senator.
“Possibly the most inspired piece of legislation to be enacted in America over the past half-century was the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980.”
The EconomistDecember 12, 2002
10 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Bayh-Dole Act 1980
• Created uniform federal intellectual property policy
• Nonprofits and small business could elect title to inventions that were created in whole or in part with federal funding
• However, universities and labs would have to agree to a set of due-diligence requirements
11 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Today technology transfer is an important part of the mission of DOE laboratories
“[Technology transfer] is an important part of what we do…It is part of the reason why we are being funded…And now, more than ever, we think that scientists…need to come to the aid of our country.”
– Steven ChuSecretary of Energy
12 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
We have 4 mechanisms to execute this mission
Userfacilities
Technologylicenses
Cooperative R&D Agreements Work for Others
Active CRADAs
Active patent licenses
Active copyright licenses
Active NF-WFO agreements
2012 inventions
2012 User Facility users
720 1,261 2,187 2,273 1,820 22,664
13 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
ACT mechanism (in development): Greater flexibility for technology transfer
The national labs are the property of the U.S. Department of Energy
Government-owned Contractor-operated
The Department of Energy contracts with the private sector for the management and operation of the labs
Management and Operations
(M&O) contract
New contractor options
• Negotiable payment terms• Authority to guarantee performance• Negotiable indemnity• Commercial contract terms• Negotiable IP terms
New contract provisions• Preservation of legislatively
mandated minimal risk position for the Government
• Opportunity for contractors to engage more effectively with industry
14 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Recent CRADA partners
General Electric GeoSpringTM heat pump water heater— 60% energy savings vs. electric storage water heater
ClimateMaster TrilogyTM ground-sourceintegrated heat pump— 60% energy savings on space conditioning and water heating vs. conventional equipment
Trane CDQ (Cool, Dry, Quiet)TM rooftop unit— High latent capacity (low sensible heat ratio) without wasteful overcooling and reheat [uses condenser waste heat to regenerate hybrid-cycle desiccant]
Southwest Gas NextAireTM gas engine-driven heat pump— 85% reduction in peak period electric demand vs. conventional air conditioning
15 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Recent start-up licensees
• LED North America
• Hubble Telemedical
16 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
National lab tech transfer success factors
Successfactors
Game-changing solutions to important problems
Capable private sector partners
Intellectual property protection
Sustained engagement
Senior leadership commitment
17 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Help from the “crowd”
Internal• High impact innovation program
– royalty funded
• Recognition
• Royalty sharing
External• Web portals
• Technology forums and showcases
• Technology-specific seminars
• Embedded “prospectors”
18 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
National laboratories: A national resource for innovation and economic growth
19 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Boneyard/back stories
20 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
• Cooperative R&D Agreements to develop solar technology– Ampulse– Ferro– Global Solar– Mossey Creek
Enterprises
• AquaSentinel: SecureWaters
• LandScan distribution:East View
• Electrochemical strain microscopy: Asylum Research
• Graphite foam: Multiple licenses
• Superhydrophobic coatings: Velox Flow, LLC
• Advancing Li-ion battery technology through WFO agreement with Dow Kokam
• Jaguar simulations to accelerate development of Under Tray system for improving diesel fuel efficiency
How ORNL has used partnering mechanisms to transfer technology
Userfacilities
TechnologylicensesCollaboration Work
for hire
21 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
National laboratory technology transfer professionals fill many roles
Relationshipmanager
Coach
Ambassador
Expert technologist
Patent lawexpert
Marketer
Integrator Salesperson
Negotiator
22 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
National laboratories invest in finding and developing capable partners
• Collaborating with companies of all sizes– Startups: LED North America,
Hubble, Agile– Midsize: AB Sciex, DNP Green– Large: GE, Caterpillar
• Providing support for aspiring entrepreneurs– Outreach events– State and regional economic
development initiatives– Entrepreneurial leave
23 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Sustained engagement leads to innovative solutions
24 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
ORNL is DOE’s largest science and energy laboratory
24 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy
$1.65B budget
World’s most intense
neutronsource
4,400employees
World-class research reactor
3,000researchguests annually
$500M modernization
investment
Nation’s largest
materials research portfolio
Most powerful open
scientific computing
facility
Nation’s most diverse
energy portfolio
Managing billion-dollar U.S. ITER
project
25 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
Conventional HT
Infrared HTResearch finding: Finer precipitate
distribution leads to improved fatigue life
Characterization Processing Production
Final product:Machined impellers for diesel turbo-chargers
Atom probe results: Larger volume fraction of nanosize
Al2CuMg precipitates in infrared heated forgings
10 nm
Full-scale production: Infrared furnace operating at Queen City Forging Company, Cincinnati
Preheating of aluminum
billets
Concept Product
Integrating and applying our capabilities: Infrared processing
26 Managed by UT-Battellefor the U.S. Department of Energy Grad Edu_1204
DOE Office of Science DOE-EERE Industry
• Microstructural evolution in irradiated stainless steels provided keys to alloy compositional design
• Creep resistant at 600–900ºC, high ductility and fatigue resistance
• Superalloy performanceat a stainless steel price(5–7 times less)
• 18 months from lab to commercial heats
• 2007 ASTM approval
CF8C-Plus cast stainless steel: Advanced materials for industry
• Caterpillar regeneration system burner housings on diesel trucks: – 500+ tons cast– 10,000+ parts in service;
no reported failures since 2006
• Being qualified for turbocharger housings
• ARRA project to accelerate deployment for new energy-relevant applications
CF8C-PLUS
Creep tested 850°C/23,000 h
Standard CF8C
Creep tested 850°C/500 h
(TEM, as cast)
Top Related