An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation (2008) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pages 189-204
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 189... ...
"Broader impacts" appears to be defined by the program largely as commercial results.123 Patenting was the only knowledge-related measure found in NSF evaluation studies of its SBIR program,124 and it appears that patent data were collected to signal commercial activity,125 No effective program reporting or use of publication information to indicate knowledge creation and dissemination was uncovered in either program management or in performance metrics. In fact, it was concluded that the NSF SBIR program management sends mixed messages about the importance of knowledge dissemination to grantees, telling them at conferences to "forget about publishing and focus on commercializing." At the same time, grantees appear in fact to be producing knowledge outputs, including publications, presentations, networking, and patents.
|
From page 190... ...
Note that the average number of patents granted (or received) per Phase II SBIR grants in the survey is 0.67.
|
From page 191... ...
Case-study results also highlight the importance of intellectual UNEDITED PROOFS
|
From page 192... ...
42-44. 128 The referenced use of citation analysis by NSF lies outside the NSF SBIR program.
|
From page 193... ...
With regard to publications, evidence was found of mixed signals sent by NSF SBIR program managers to grantees regarding the importance, or lack thereof, of publications as a project output.131 Yet, as indicated by the results of the NRC Phase II survey conducted for this study, patents and scientific publications are being produced by the NSF SBIR program. Hence, opportunities exist to encourage program participants to publish when it will not compromise their ability to commercialize.
|
From page 194... ...
Although at the time of the survey, none of the grantee companies had been sold to foreign companies or investors, there was indication that this activity was underway to some extent. Table 7.2-3 Equity Sales of Phase II Grantees to U.S.
|
From page 196... ...
The case studies also illustrate how partnering as a business strategy transfers knowledge among partnering companies and their researchers. For example, NRT developed a metals processing technologies in a strategic collaboration with another company, wTe Corporation, which has an automobile shredder division and specialized knowledge in this application.
|
From page 198... ...
While the company founders still have their university posts, the company, under professional management, has grown to 35 employees, with several millions in revenues. The founders' insight that they had a marketable product came just as the internet bubble burst, making private venture capital difficult to secure.
|
From page 199... ...
Faculty members or adjunct faculty member worked on the project 37 in a role other than PI Graduate students worked on the project 27 University/College facilities and/or equipment were used on the 25 project A university or college was a subcontractor on the project 17 The technology for this project was originally developed at a 14 university or college by one of the participants in the referenced project The technology for the project was licensed from a university or 5 college The Principal Investigator (PI) for the project was at the time of 5 the project an adjunct faculty member The Principal Investigator (PI for the project was at the time of the 1 project a faculty member Source: NRC Phase II Survey The NRC survey results show that the NSF SBIR helps to move research concepts out of the university.
|
From page 200... ...
Another example of a technical barrier overcome is provided by the efforts of Language Weaver, Inc., which has boot-strapped a statistical machine translation technology with national security and economic potential out of a university into use on a fast-track basis. It is being used now to translate Arabic, Farsi, Chinese, and other languages into English, and English into other languages with reportedly far greater speed and accuracy than other techniques.
|
From page 201... ...
after completing his graduate degree in engineering. He found the NSF SBIR program particularly helpful in the early stages when he was building the company's technological and commercial capacity.
|
From page 202... ...
Trends in these and other indicators may indicate that developments are occurring along an indirect path -- as would be expected for projects that are progressing towards the generation of broad impacts. It is apparent from the Phase II survey results that it would be possible to compile multiple indicators of knowledge generation and dissemination and early commercialization achievements from NSF SBIR projects, and to track them over time.
|
From page 203... ...
"The NSF SBIR/STTR program aligned the solicitation topics with external investment and market opportunities and simultaneously preserved the science and engineering alliances with the NSF directorates."133 133 OII Strategic Plan, draft, June 2, 2005, p.
|
From page 204... ...
Information Based Technology (IT) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (AM)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.