Pres. Obama's Seven Useless Technology Transfer Proposals

In the September 26 issue of C&E News, there is an article entitled, "Moving from Lab to Market". It covers Pres. Obama's proposed seven initiatives on technology transfer to encourage commercialization.

Having spent several years as a Technology Transfer Manager for a major corporation, I feel qualified to write on the subject. I will cover each of the seven initiatives individually.

1. Pres. Obama wants to establish a partnership between the National Institute of Health, Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, and the Federal Drug Administration to develop a chip, which will quickly screen drugs for toxicity and effectiveness.

This is a ridiculous proposal. Note also that is not a technology transfer matter, since there is no technology yet to be transferred. It is only a matter of enlarging government into another research field. It is not the prerogative of government to do such research. It's an area for private industry. Drug companies and their associations can do this without any government intervention.

2. Obama proposes startup companies to license more easily technology patented by government agencies.

I completely agree with this but also with an extension. Patents owned by the federal government should be licensed to individuals and corporations without charge and with the most convenience.

3. Obama proposes that the US Patent and Trademark Office, the National Science Foundation Small Business Administration provide support, meaning many free services, to persons already receiving grants for research at universities.

This is a ridiculous proposal. Individuals should not be receiving government grants in the first place. Most of those research projects are completely impractical and this would be pouring money down the existing rat hole.

4. Obama is proposing a University Commercialization Prize. The National Science Foundation is involved, which means funding. Early talk is about $400,000.

Any research that universities have developed and which could be commercialized would normally be done to the advantage of the University, without the necessity of any half million dollar prize. This is only another attempt to push taxpayers money into the universities in order to obtain government control.

5. Obama proposes building stronger ties between academia and industry, investors, and federal agencies.

This is another ridiculous proposal, because it is not necessary. Academia and industry are already well connected and government should not even be involved. Anything that is supposedly offered free of charge by government is a cost the taxpayers.

6. Obama wants to add four universities to the Coulter Foundation's Translational Research Partnership Program.

Translational research is an attempt to develop processes for removing barriers to multi-disciplinary collaboration. This is a wonderful leftist idea, which has no practical significance. A good manager knows how to remove obstacles. One of the best ways is to eliminate involvement of government.

7. This is a proposal to harness biological research innovation to address national challenges in health, food, energy, and the environment.

Another boondoggle operation. It is pie-in-the-sky, because these completely non-definitive. It only makes sense as one considers that it supports Pres. Obama's position of increasing the role of government in our lives, without any benefit for employment and the general economy.