A weakness in the ATR model was not the recognition that the Institute should become self-sufficient, but the way in which the Institute was required to become so. Within two years of its formation, the Institute was essentially required to operate independently. Primary Findings About Research Partnership 1. Research partnership is an intense, full-time activity. It should be implemented with fully committed researchers working in co-located offices.
Flexible funding helps a partnership initiate research.
Flexible funding includes committing partner resources to generate innovative ideas, reserving funds for rapid response to opportunity, and leveraging resources from public and private entities. Partnership research should address state, national and international transportation needs. In part, the evolution is initiated by change within each of the partner organizations. Evolution is also the result of change within the partnership itself. Research partnerships have the opportunity to fully employ our nation's science and technology base.