UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-

Stares of OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

4%,
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Dr. Rita R. Colwell

Chair, Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology
FROM: Walter G. Copan MMe

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standafds and Technology and
Director, National Institute of Standafds and Technology

SUBJECT: Charge to the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) for the
Establishment of a Subcommittee of the VCAT

This year the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will be leading a
government-wide effort to improve transfer of federally funded technologies from Lab-to-Market
as part of the President’s Management Agenda. As we lead the effort on a national scale, it is
important for us to look critically at how we perform these tasks within our own organization.
The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT or Committee) can help shape and
define NIST’s approach.

To address this issue, I am charging the VCAT to establish a subcommittee to develop
recommendations focused on NIST’s delivery of advanced technology to enhance national
security and improve our Nation’s competitiveness and the quality of life of our citizens. This
subcommittee, the VCAT Subcommittee on Technology Transfer (Subcommittee), will be
comprised of a subset of the Committee’s members, and is to meet and to conduct information-
gathering from external experts in between various Committee meetings.

It is my understanding that the VCAT Subcommittee on Technology Transfer is to be chaired by
Katherine Ku, a member of the VCAT.

The transfer of NIST technology and knowledge is key to accomplishing this part of the overall
mission. The American taxpayers invest in our science programs through the Congress, and
recognizing the need to provide a significant return on their investment helps NIST serve the
Nation. The President’s Management Agenda contains a Cross Agency Priority Goal to improve
transfer of federally funded technologies from Lab-to-Market. NIST has a leadership role in
implementing this policy, but equally important is a thorough review of how we implement
technology transfer right here in our own NIST programs and reflect it in our policies.

It is my understanding that as a critical component of this review, the VCAT Subcommittee on
Technology Transfer will ask visiting technical experts to assess NIST technology transfer
policies and practices and if necessary provide findings on how they can be improved.

NIST


To assist the VCAT Subcommittee on Technology Transfer in this review, the Subcommittee
will ask each visiting technical expert to provide feedback on the ability of NIST to transfer work
products and work collaboratively with domestic industry to maximize economic benefit.

Accordingly, the Subcommittee on Technology Transfer will ask each visiting technical expert
to report to the Subcommittee as follows:

1. Review NIST’s current technology transfer policies and practices, and provide their
individual technical assessments on the principles that should drive these policies and
practices for effectively engaging the business community and communicating with
stakeholders;

2. Assess NIST’s performance in the development and dissemination of work products
and knowledge, and recommend improvements. Specific areas that the visiting technical
experts should address include the development and use of intellectual property and
collaborative research.

The visiting technical experts will deliver their individual assessments and findings to the VCAT
Subcommittee on Technology Transfer for their consideration in the development of a final
report to the VCAT and any subsequent recommendations given to NIST.

Accordingly, the Subcommittee on Technology Transfer should be charged to report to the
Committee as follows:

1. Review NIST’s current technology transfer policies and practices, and provide the
Subcommittee’s recommendations on the principles that should drive these policies and
practices for effectively engaging the business community and communicating with
stakeholders;

2. Assess NIST’s performance in the development and dissemination of work products
and knowledge, and recommend improvements. Specific areas that the Subcommittee
should address include the development and use of intellectual property and collaborative
research.

I look forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations for how NIST can best respond to
this national priority. The Subcommittee’s efforts, and its eventual report and recommendations
to the Committee, will expand on the concepts brought before the VCAT at the February 7,
2018, meeting. Additional information and discussion about the Subcommittee was provided at
the June 4-5, 2018, VCAT meeting. Thank you in advance for contributing your valuable time
and expertise to participate in this critical task.