Information is shared through workshops, briefings, and visits. Exchanging personnel Legislation and policy changes have made personnel exchanges easier. Finding technical assistance Both small and large businesses can benefit from technical assistance and suggestions from laboratory staff, both from a distance or by actually visiting the labs. Often there is no charge. Technical assistance may open the door to later technology transfer.
Specialized facilities provide unique capabilities.
Access is often on a cost-reimbursable basis, with the information acquired generally belonging to the company. In some instances, when the information is of interest to the government or scientific community at large, different cooperative terms can be negotiated. Moving federal discoveries into the mainstream can give recognition to the federal scientists without inhibiting the broad application of the technology. Acquiring software Software developers have often been able to hasten and enhance the production of their own software through cooperation with federal labs. While the technology transfers have benefited a wide variety of industries, there are a number of award-winning transfers specifically in the field of optics.