The Advanced Technology Program Assessing Outcomes (2001) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Findings and Recommendations
Findings and Recommendations
Pages 83-98
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From page 85... ...
The program makes competitive awards on a cost-share basis to individual companies and larger awards to joint ventures.
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From page 86... ...
6 As noted by Feldman and Kelley in this volume, "The logic for public investment is that, in the long run, the economic benefits to consumers, other firms and the larger national economy will exceed the private returns realized by the firm that received the research award, and thus justify the public investment." Ibid. The rationale for government funding of certain types of R&D activities, as articulated by Zvi Griliches, is that this funding encourages firms to undertake R&D projects in which the public rate of return exceeds the private rate of return.
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From page 87... ...
The selection criteria applied by the program enable it to meet broad national needs and help ensure that the benefits of successful awards extend across firms and industnes. Its cost-shared, industrydnven approach to funding promising new technological opportunities has shown considerable success in advancing technologies that can contribute to important societal goals such as improved health diagnostics (e.g., breast cancer detection)
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From page 88... ...
The project resulted in productivity improvements for member companies, diffusion of new technology to other producers, and improved competitive positions for and retained employment at participating companies. The study by David Austin and Molly Macauley, "Estimating Future Benefits from ATP Funding of Digital Data Storage," estimates substantial consumer welfare gains from ATP-funded innovations in digital data storage although the final impact is dependent on the adoption of the technologies.
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From page 89... ...
For additional ATP-supported research on social benefits, see Edwin Mansfield, Estimating Social and Private Returns from Innovations Based on the Advanced Technology Program: Problems and Opportunities, NIST GCR 99780, January 1996; William F Long, Performance of Completed Projects, Status Report Number 1, op.
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From page 90... ...
Contnbuting to the development of technologies embodying recent scientific discovenes, such as the award to PPL Therapeutics to develop a way to produce valuable stem cells from adult human cells, possibly creating a non-controversial alternative to the use of embryonic stem i6 For a discussion of the manufacturing and environmental efficiencies made possible by Extrude Hone's advanced manufacturing processes, see the presentation by Larry Rhoades in Panel III of this volume. For a summary of the accomplishments of the PWB consortium see the analysis by Albert Link, "Enhanced R&D Efficiency in an ATP-funded Joint Venture" in this volume.
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From page 91... ...
This program has two elements: an in-house effort based at NIST Headquarters and an external effort contracted with the independent National Bureau of Economic Research.23 The quality, quantity, and analytical range of these studies are impressive. Over 58 case studies and other assessments have been completed; substantial additional work is under way.24 With regard to this assessment program, several points emerge: 1.
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From page 92... ...
27 For example, the SBIR program, currently allocated over $1.2 billion annually, is six times larger than the ATP, yet it has been subject to almost no systemic external assessment, apart from a series of GAO reports and the recently completed National Research Council study, The Small Business Innovation Research Program: An Assessment of the Department of Defense Fast Track Initiative, Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Press, 2000. Similarly, widely used cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs)
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From page 93... ...
It will also give the ATP management earlier and more accurate information concerning the rate of awards than is available under an annual award process.29 B Retain the debriefing process for unsuccessful applicants: Unsuccessful awardees find the debriefing process after an unsuccessful application to the ATP to be valuable even though more than three-fifths of the nonwinners do not proceed with any aspect of the R&D project that they proposed to ATP.30 C
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From page 94... ...
Concerning program accomplishments (and failures) , see the overview provided by Rosalie Ruegg, "Taking a Step Back: An Early Results Overview of Fifty ATP Awards," in this volume.
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From page 95... ...
are awarded to small business. This reflects small business's unique capabilities as a source of low-overhead innovation.37 Notwithstanding this recognition of the innovative capabilities of small business, the diversity of the ATP awards, involving both large and small companies, is an important feature of the program, and should be retained (see G below)
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From page 96... ...
The social benefits or spillovers appear substantial. The development of this technology also illustrates the impact federal R&D awards can have on decision making in large companies where multiple options, established hurdle rates, and technological and market uncertainties mitigate against even promising technologies.
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In some states, firms that receive ATP awards are currently eligible for grants from the state government. The NIST management should establish a regular outreach program to coordinate awards after the review process (or in conjunction)
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From page 98... ...
Schachtel and Maryann P Feldman, Reinforcing Interactions Between the Advanced Technology Program and State Technology Programs, Volume 1: A Guide to State Business Assistance Programs for New Technology Creation and Commercialization, NIST GCR 00-78, April 2000.
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