FOCUS No. 37: Lessons Learned in Technology Transfer from Dr. Gregg Vanderheiden and the Trace Research & Development Center
Figure 1 displays a graph. The basis of the graph is a rectangle without a top line and a u-shaped line inside of it, expanding to the edges of the rectangle. Outside the left side of the graph, it reads, "Good" Scientific Ideas: Knowledge Creation Lab Results Proof of Concept Publications Patents…". Outside the right of the graph and in line with the text to the left side of the graph ("Good" Scientific Ideas: Knowledge Creation Lab Results Proof of Concept Publications Patents…"), it reads "Good" Market-Dominating Ideas Details of How to Make & Use Proprietary Advantage Profits.
Directly below and outside the graph, there is a row of seven consecutive boxes. The first box, just to the left of the graph, is labeled "Scientific Uncertainty." The next five boxes are directly under the graph and span equal distances. Separating the five boxes that are under the graph, lines rise vertically to the top of the graph, making columns of approximately one-fifth for each. The second box is Scientific Risk. The third box is Technical Risk. The fourth box is Engineering Uncertainty. The fifth box is Manufacturing Uncertainty. The sixth box is Market Risk & Uncertainty. The seventh box is just outside the graph on the right side, and is labeled Exogenous Risk & Uncertainty.
Above the left edge of the graph is a box with the words Universities & Federal Labs. Slightly below this box and in line with the top of the graph is a large dollar sign (at the top of the far left hand column, above the Scientific Risk box). Above the right hand edge of the graph is a box with the words Industry: Firms & Users. Slightly below this box and in line with the top of the graph it reads "$ X 100" (at the top of the far right hand column, above the Market Risk & Uncertainty box). Centered between the dollar sign and $ X 100, spanning the Technical Risk, Engineering Uncertainty, and Manufacturing Uncertainty columns are two labels. The graph title is "The Valley of Death – where many "good" science ideas, technologies and new products and processes die." Slightly below the title are the words: Scale-up, Manufacturing, Exogenous Technology & Market Risks…
Source: Factors that Foster Industry-University Cooperation: Implications for I/UCRCs. Paper presented by M. Jelinek at the National Science Foundation - Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program Evaluator Meeting, Arlington, VA, June 2006. © Mariann Jelinek, PhD, Professor of Strategy Emerita, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg VA, 23185, Copyright 2006. SEDL used with permission of the author.