Technology transfer/transition methodologies for medical applications as part of the Innovative and Unconventional Concepts Task, USAF Wright Laboratory, Eglin AFB, Florida

Traditional technology transfer has primarily consisted of locating commercial applications for technologies developed within the National Laboratory structure and endeavoring to enter into some form of agreement between the government and industry partner/s to commercialize the further development and disposition of these technologies. The Innovative and Unconventional Concepts (IUC) Task has taken somewhat different direction. Specifically, a concerted effort is being made to locate near and novel applications for existing technologies within the government as opposed to entering into new development programs for commercialization. The advantage is two-fold; first, government needs are met first and with highest priority and second, when a technology is finally transferred, it is closer to the needs of the commercial environment. This results primarily from the fact that the vast majority of commercial enterprises are represented, at least in microcosm, within the federal government. This paper deals specifically with efforts supporting medical applications