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FLC National Meeting
Meeting Proceedings
Monday - May 4, 2009
| Time |
Topic/Description |
| 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Tech Fair & Exhibits Setup |
| 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Technology Transfer Fundamentals Training—A Technology Transfer Primer
Moderator: Laurie Arrants, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke  
Ideal for newcomers to the technology transfer field or as a refresher for T2 veterans, this day-long course provided a basic foundation in the background, concepts, and practical knowledge required to transfer federally funded technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace. Subject-area experts provided information about technology transfer and the technology transfer process, as well as practical insights into the nuts and bolts of technology transfer implementation. The following topics were addressed:
Introduction to Technology Transfer and the FLC
Laurie Arrants, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Provided an overview of federal technology transfer and the role of the FLC. How to Establish and Manage a Federal Technology Transfer Office
Scott Deiter, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Indian Head Division 
Provided a primer that told you everything you need to know about managing a federal T2 office, including what the new ORTA needs to know and do, building a T2 library, securing your lab's intellectual property, identifying and marketing laboratory technologies for commercialization, working with partnership intermediaries and cooperative research partners, and finding assistance for your technology transfer efforts. T2 Mechanisms (Non-CRADA)
Nona Cheeks, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Surveyed a wide range of mechanisms used by federal laboratories to transfer technology, including license agreements, facility-use agreements, material transfer agreements, work for others, partnership intermediary agreements, and many others. CRADA Workshop
Robert Charles, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
Offered an in-depth look at the popular Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), including the legal basis for CRADAs, how CRADAs are developed and implemented, and how they are used by various laboratories and agencies to facilitate T2. Intellectual Property Protection and Rights in Government Inventions
Jesse Erlich, Burns & Levinson, LLP
Provided an overview of the various forms of intellectual property (IP), IP protection, and IP rights pertaining to inventions of federal employees and contractors. |
Technology Transfer Intermediate Training, Track I—Patenting & Licensing Workshop
Moderator: Terry Lynch, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Designed for technology transfer professionals who have a basic foundation in the background, concepts, and processes of technology transfer or who have completed the Fundamentals Training course, this interactive, day-long intermediate-level course presented by a team of technology transfer veterans featured two highly interactive workshops for technology transfer professionals, federal scientists, and engineers that focused on the patent and licensing process in the federal laboratory. Topics included:
Patenting Workshop
The workshop provided detailed information on the protection of intellectual property in federal laboratories, with a focus on the patent process in federal laboratories.
Basic Patent Law Refresher & Prosecution Overview
Jesse Erlich, Burns & Levinson, LLP
& Liz Arwine, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
Licensing and Negotiations Workshop
This workshop first examined the elements of an effective license, including such issues as intellectual property valuation and financial consideration, types of licenses and when to use them, sublicensing, R&D prior to product sales, gross vs. net sales, and diligence provisions. The workshop then focused on how to successfully negotiate a license agreement, including the purpose of negotiations, what to do at each step in the licensing negotiation process, things to do and things to avoid, and the roles and responsibilities of the various members of the negotiating team. The licensing portion of the course addressed the licensing process in both government-owned and government-operated (GOGO) and government-owned and contractor-operated (GOCO) laboratories.
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Technology Transfer Intermediate Training, Track II—Workshop on Commercialization of Innovative Technology
Wendy Kennedy, technology industry executive, educator, and author
This day-long, highly interactive Intermediate-level workshop for technology transfer professionals, federal scientists, and engineers focused on developing and commercializing innovative technologies. The "Workshop on Commercialization of Innovative Technology" was presented by Wendy Kennedy, technology industry executive, educator and author, who focused on how researchers, scientists, and technology entrepreneurs can interest investors and other business backers in their ideas. In this workshop, which is based on her book, So what? Who cares? Why you? The Inventor's Commercialization Toolkit, Ms. Kennedy showed you how you can increase the odds of bringing innovative ideas from "lab to life." |
Technology Transfer Advanced Training Seminar
Moderator: Gilbert ("Gib") Marguth, Technology Transfer Consultant, formerly Director of the Office of Technology Transfer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
A panel of seasoned professionals representing technology transfer managers, practitioners, and industry presented an innovative, full-day Advanced Training seminar that examined issues significant to technology transfer leaders and managers as part of a dynamic give-and-take dialogue with seminar participants. The program focused on the following T2-related issues:
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| 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. |
Break |
| Noon - 1:00 p.m. |
Lunch |
| 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. |
Break |
| 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
Welcome Reception |
|
Tuesday - May 5, 2009
| Time |
Topic/Description |
| 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Tech Fair |
| 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. |
Opening Remarks & UNC Charlotte Color Guard
Scott Deiter, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Indian Head Division
Deborah Germak, FAA - William J. Hughes Technical Center
J. Keith Crisco, North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary |
| 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. |
Results-based Innovation
Louis Foreman, Enventys
It is difficult to look at a business magazine, read an annual report, or watch the news without finding a story about innovation. Rightly so. Innovation and the efforts to develop it as a habit are critical to the strategic success of every company. Yet innovation has become a catch-all phrase that refers to virtually every move a company makes—no matter how large or small that "innovation" may actually be.
One of the biggest problems with terms such as "innovation" and "creativity," along with the time and expense so many companies embed in those terms, is that they have lost touch with results.
This discussion uncovered the traditional ways in which companies try to act innovative, and offered a different definition of innovation that focused on executable results and generating economic returns.
Companies today need to reenergize their efforts toward innovation and abandon the familiar "brainstorming" sessions that were once considered innovative. Today, successful companies are creating a culture in their organization that embraces innovation and is open to ideas, regardless of where they come from, that lead to executable results. |
| 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. |
Break |
| FLC Communications Committee Meeting
|
| 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. |
Auctioning Federal Lab IP Licensing Rights
Moderator: Gary Jones, FLC Washington, DC Representative
Federal laboratory technology transfer professionals have a variety of tools at their disposal to support their mission of transferring technology from the laboratory to the market. Labs from NASA recently added a new tool to their toolkit, the live IP auction. In fall 2008, NASA Goddard was the first federal laboratory to participate in an IP auction, sponsored by Ocean Tomo LLC, at which three lots of bundled IP were bundled for auction—with the winning bidder earning the right to an exclusive license to the bundled technology. This session highlighted the IP auction mechanism, as well as other related tools for monetizing and commercializing IP, and relate NASA's experience in the process.
- Nona Cheeks, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Dean Becker, Ocean Tomo
- Bryan Geurts, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Teaming with SBIR Awardees
Moderator: Ed Linsenmeyer, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Panama City Division
This session addressed the processes involved in teaming with SBIR award winners—how to form CRADA partnership, and intellectual property rights for Phase III contracts with the federal government.
- Dr. Alison Brown, NAVSYS Corporation
- Ricardo Negron, Air Force Research Laboratory - Sensors Directorate
|
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
Lunch |
Building An Innovation Ecosystem With the Charlotte Research Institute, the North Carolina Research Campus, and the Charlotte Region
Robert Wilhelm, Ph.D., Charlotte Research Institute
The Charlotte Region is home to a diverse economy and a rapidly growing intellectual enterprise. Innovation has long been a mainstay, and this continues with developments at the Charlotte Research Institute and the North Carolina Research Campus. Ongoing programs and plans were discussed to illustrate how a new innovation ecosystem is taking shape and driving both business and intellectual development in nutrition and health, life sciences and bioinformatics, advanced manufacturing, defense and security, and energy and sustainability. Federal laboratory collaborations play a key role in this ecosystem, and examples were presented. |
Candidate Introductions
John Dement, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane Division |
| 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. |
Issues to Consider When Licensing Federal IP in Foreign Countries, Including Australia and Great Britain
Moderator: Scott Deiter, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Indian Head Division
In today's global economy, international partnering and commercialization are becoming very important mechanisms for conducting business across country borders. A panel of patent law experts discussed key issues that licensing executives/technology transfer professionals in a federal lab need to know and consider when licensing technologies to a foreign entity. Topics included global patent portfolio strategy, due diligence, ITAR, potential ethical issues, language constraints within a foreign patent license, and additional issues.
- Jeffrey H. Rosedale, Woodcock Washburn LLP
& John Caldwell, Woodcock Washburn, LLP
- Huw Hallybone, Carpmaels & Ransford
- Andrew D. Dark, Pizzeys Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys
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Innovative Marketing Partnership Panel
Moderator: David McFeeters-Krone, Intellectual Assets, Corp.
Insights, opportunities, leverage, qualified licensees brought to your door, and facilitation in closing deals. These are the advantages intermediaries can offer your technology transfer office. A panel of experts who work in, around, and with industry and government labs discussed how their intermediary programs could make your job easier and help you increase your T2 metrics.
- Cheryl Cejka, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Ray Felts, Ninesigma, Inc.
- Will Swearingen, Ph.D., TechLink
|
| 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
International and Domestic Patent Filing
Moderator: Susan Sprake, Los Alamos National Laboratory
The second part of the international partnering and commercialization session dealt specifically with filing patent applications in the European Union (EU), Japan, and the U.S. Intellectual property and patent law experts compared and contrasted the vital requirements of each patent entity. Subtle nuances that can make or break a patent application were highlighted. Attendees obtained a clear understanding of these requirements, along with a review of the PCT process and a list of participants.
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How Regional Partnership Intermediaries Can Help Stimulate Federal T2 Innovation in TBED
Moderator: Belinda Snyder, Los Alamos National Laboratory
A panel discussion about new methods of reaching state, community and private sector stakeholders with federal lab technologies. Attendees learned why partnership intermediaries can develop crucial bridges between national laboratories, state governments and private sector organizations. Attendees also heard about what resources are available to identify your state TBED officials.
- Dr. Richard Brenner, USDA Agricultural Research Service
- Renee Winsky, Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
- John Dement, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane Division
- John Slanina, State Science and Technology Institute
|
| 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. |
Break |
| 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. |
Science and Technology Policy: Reflections and the Path Forward
Moderator: Gary Jones, FLC Washington, DC Representative
A top priority of the new administration will be to guide the development of U.S. science and technology (S&T) policy for the foreseeable future. Administrative actions and agency R&D budgets all provide clues to where S&T policy may be headed, with implications for the federal science and technology community. A panel discussed what we know to date about "the path forward" in U.S. S&T policy, with a highlight on what is known about the Obama Administration's S&T policy priorities, budget plans, and initiatives. This time was also used to recognize the outstanding service of Jim Turner (former Chief Counsel to the House Science and Technology Committee) to both federal technology transfer and the FLC, and to hear his thoughts on federal tech transfer and the S&T issues of the day.
- Albert H. Teich, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Jim Turner, former Majority Counsel, House Science and Technology Committee, US Congress
|
| 4:30 - 5:15 p.m. |
FLC Business Meeting & Washington, DC Representative Update
Scott Deiter, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Indian Head Division
Gary Jones, FLC Washington, DC Representative |
| 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. |
FLC Networking Reception |
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Wednesday - May 6, 2009
| Time |
Topic/Description |
| 7:00 - 8:15 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| FLC Awards Committee Meeting |
| FLC Education & Training Committee Meeting |
| FLC Legal Issues Committee Meeting |
| 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
Tech Fair |
| 8:15 - 10:00 a.m. |
DOD Agency Meeting
Cynthia Gonsalves, Office of the Secretary of Defense |
DOE Agency Meeting
David Koegel, Department of Energy - Office of Science |
"Out of Many, One" - E Pluribus Unum (We're All in This Together!)
Moderator: Sarah Bauer, Environmental Protection Agency
This session provided an opportunity for the group to discuss issues they are facing and for colleagues to offer possible suggestions. The format was a mini-town hall with questions, answers and examples being highlighted.
- Terry Lynch, National Institute of Standards and Technology
|
| 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
DOE Tech Transfer Working Group (TTWG) Meeting
Cheryl Cejka, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:30 a.m. - Noon |
FLC Town Hall Meeting
Moderator: Dr. Richard Brenner, USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| Noon - 1:15 p.m. |
Lunch |
Centers of Innovation: Accelerating Commercialization in North Carolina
Mary Beth Thomas, Ph.D., Centers for Innovation Operations, N. Carolina Biotechnology Center
In this session, Dr. Thomas gave a brief overview of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center—its vision, mission and impact in support of the biotechnology industry in North Carolina. She focused on a new program, the Centers of Innovation program initiative, which is aimed at accelerating the identification, development, and commercialization of research within specific biotechnology-dependent industries vital to North Carolina's future. The creation of knowledge networks and the use of open innovation practices were features of this program. |
| 1:15 - 3:00 p.m. |
Protecting the Government's IP Interests in Litigation (DOJ)
Moderator: Robert Charles, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
Mr. Fargo addressed considerations involved in deciding whether an infringement suit should be brought by the Department of Justice against a party that appears to be infringing a government patent. His talk addressed preparation for an affirmative suit, as well as the potential involvement of a licensing agency in the aspects of an infringement suit brought by an exclusive licensee.
- John Fargo, Department of Justice
|
STEM Projects & Initiatives
Moderator: Susan Sprake, Los Alamos National Laboratory
The country continues to emphasize the need for the nation to be proficient in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Federal laboratories nationwide have exceptional examples of working with all levels of education to provide practical uses of STEM. This session highlighted some novel efforts by federal laboratories.
- Robert Starr, NASA Langley - NASA Digital Learning Network
- Caroline Campbell-Hardman, National Network of Digital Schools
& Eric Hardman, National Network of Digital Schools
- Cathy Fore, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
- Colonel Charles Dunn III, Battle Command Battle Laboratory
- Joe Capps, US Army Signal Center of Excellence
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| 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. |
Break |
| Voting Ends |
| 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. |
Navy Meeting
Dottie Vincent, Office of Naval Research |
Air Force Meeting
Ricardo Negron, Air Force Research Laboratory - Sensors Directorate |
FLC Café
Moderator: Cris Johnsrud, Pathfinder Research, Inc.
Do you have an idea, suggestion, observation or helpful comment to make about the FLC, the technology transfer process, agency policies, or any other topic? Modeled after the highly successful World Café "Conversations That Matter" process, the FLC provided a setting where attendees sat down with one another and shared a cup of coffee, as well as their thoughts on specific relevant topics, in a warm, friendly, bistro-like café setting. Attendees' ideas and comments formed a base for developing a range of broader strategies, program offerings, and initiatives that can improve and strengthen the FLC, federal technology transfer, and professional development. |
Human Interest Panel
Moderator: John Emond, NASA Headquarters
Beyond technical advances, there is a "human interest" aspect to technology transfer. This panel highlighted a range of examples where technology development and technology transfer either made a direct difference or have the potential to make a difference in people's lives.
- Dinah Cohen, Department of Defense
This presentation highlighted the DOD Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) and how it provides assistive technology for employees with disabilities throughout the federal government. It also focused on the new legislation that allows CAP to work closely with medical providers at military treatment facilities to increase awareness and the availability of assistive technology to support wounded service members through the medical recovery and rehabilitation phases. Examples of best practices and opportunities for new technologies were discussed.
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Thursday - May 7, 2009
| Time |
Topic/Description |
| 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| FLC Planning & Policy Committee Meeting |
| FLC Program Committee Meeting |
| FLC State & Local Goverment Committee Meeting |
| 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Tech Fair |
| 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. |
Far West Region Meeting
Ida Shum, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Mid-Atlantic Region Meeting
Mojdeh Bahar, National Institutes of Health |
Mid-Continent Region Meeting
Michael James Crane, U.S. Air Force Academy |
Midwest Region Meeting
Kristen Schario, Air Force Research Laboratory - Propulsion Directorate |
Northeast Region Meeting
Dr. Theresa Baus, Naval Undersea Warfare Center - Division Newport |
Southeast Region Meeting
Mark Reeves, Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
| 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. |
D*I*C*E*/Economic Espionage
Moderator: Ed Linsenmeyer, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Panama City Division
A discussion on the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 and why over a decade later very little attention is given to the impact economic espionage has had on the American economy and our national security.
- Ray Semko, D*I*C*E*
|
| 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:45 a.m. - Noon |
Agency Representatives' and Laboratory Directors' Town Hall Meeting
Moderator: Ric Trotta, Trotta Associates
The session focused on the major issues identified and discussed during the July 2008 and April 2009 laboratory directors meetings in Washington. These issues included science and mathematics education, energy independence, and management practices to stimulate collaboration. The vision of these network meetings was that federal laboratory executives working with counterparts from industry and academia have the capability to enhance U.S. competitiveness while addressing key national issues.
- Gary Wang, SPAWAR, Systems Center
- Dr. S. Pete Worden, Ames Research Center
- Dr. Edgar King, US Department of Agriculture
|
| Noon - 1:00 p.m. |
Lunch
Moderator: Susan Sprake, Los Alamos National Laboratory |
Shade Tree Scientists at the World's Fastest Laboratory
"Land Speed" Louise Ann Noeth, Landspeed Productions
Where can a high school dropout clean the clock of a Ph.D.? Bonneville. Where does formal education count for little while passion makes all the difference? Bonneville. For decades, ordinary people have attained extraordinary results experimenting with time, speed and distance on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Racing their hand-crafted speed machines, they are the grassroots embodiment of research, develop, test and evaluate. Exotic backyard fuel mixtures that work exceptionally well in high altitudes, aerodynamic approaches that are mostly intuitive, DIY chassis construction that allows a driver to survive a 300-mph tumble… Visit the laboratory where free-thinking and ingenuity are encouraged to produce the fastest cars, trucks and motorcycles in the world. Attendess caught a bit of "salt fever" as LandSpeed Louise, the sport's biggest cheerleader, introduced this fascinating aspect of great American "can-do" spirit while she challenged them to figure out where their discipline fits into the task of recapturing the world land speed record for the U.S. |
Election Results Announced
John Dement, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane Division |
| 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. |
Industry "How To" Training: FLC - Your Open Innovation Partner
Moderator: David McFeeters-Krone, Intellectual Assets, Corp.
The federal government spends $100 billion annually on research and development, and it has a mission to work with private industry. In this industry-focused session attendees learned about the mechanisms and heard about some of the partnerships other firms have formed. Note that this was not procurement, but rather opportunities for attendees to boost their firm's intellectual capital and gain a sustainable strategic advantage. Topics included Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), licenses, and other ways to access federal capabilities.
- Scott Deiter, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Indian Head Division
- Michael Muthig, Ph.D., Concurrent Technologies Corporation
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Industry Perspectives I: Small Business to Large Business via the Federal Labs
Moderator: Ed Linsenmeyer, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Panama City Division
During this session attendees saw how barriers to partnerships have been overcome when growing a small business to a larger one. Attendees also heard how a large organization composed of private industry, colleges and universities, and federal laboratories have been established to support the development of nanotechnology and nonmanufacturing.
- Joe Dorner, USDA Agricultural Research Service
& Alvin Jones, Circle One Global
- Craig Harvey, NVision Solutions, Inc.
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| 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. |
Break |
Speed Networking—Start Building Your Team
Moderator: Michael Muthig, Ph.D., Concurrent Technologies Corporation
Getting face-to-face with potential business partners is a great way to learn about each other's capabilities and to identify ways for potential collaboration. This speed networking event was designed to provide an opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from federal laboratories, prime contractors, and other small businesses. These mini-meetings were a structured way for attendees to network with targeted individuals, and a fast and effective way to make business contacts. Host tables included:
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| 2:15 - 7:00 p.m. |
FLC Awards Poster Session |
| 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. |
Energy Panel
Moderator: Deborah Germak, FAA - William J. Hughes Technical Center
One of the new administration's objectives is to look for long-term solutions that will move America closer to energy independence. President Obama will push for legislation to require the use of alternative fuels such as wind and solar for electricity generation, known as the renewable portfolio standard. This comprehensive energy plan summons the nation to face some of the greatest challenges of our time—confronting our dependence on foreign oil; addressing the moral, economic and environmental challenge of global climate change; and building a clean energy future that benefits all Americans. Attendess listened to a panel of representatives from local organizations, and heard their energy conservation and other energy initiatives to meet these challenges.
- Dr. Alex Huang, North Carolina State University
- Dr. John Hardin, North Carolina Board of Science and Technology
- David Masters, Duke Energy
- Dr. Jeffrey Phillips, Electric Power Research Institute
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Industry Perspectives II: Global Business Perspectives on Working with Federal Laboratories
Moderator: Susan Sprake, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Well-known global businesses provided insights into how working with federal laboratories have enabled them to meet their global challenges. Letting the laboratories' "genius" out of the bottle to enhance commercial endeavors is rewarding, yet challenging. By session's end, attendees learned tips on how to maximize business opportunities and how labs can improve their interactions with industry.
- Lorraine Morrison, Northrop Grumman Corporation
- John Elling, Acoustic Flow Systems, Inc.
- Melanie Gross, Genentech, Inc.
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| 5:30 - 10:00 p.m. |
FLC Awards Banquet & Ceremony |
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