The Z Files: Tracing the Origins of FLC's 50-Year Journey
Welcome to this edition of the Z Files! As we gear up for our National Meeting in Dallas and our celebration of the FLC’s 50th anniversary, it is a timely moment to look back at how we got here.
At the National Meeting, we will delve into this history during our Town Hall, which will feature Joe Allen talking about some of the events and people who laid the groundwork for the work we do in federal tech transfer. Joe was a staffer for Senator Evan Bayh and was a key player in the passage of the Bayh-Dole Act. Later, he worked at the Department of Commerce as the Bayh-Dole Act, Stevenson-Wydler Act, Federal Technology Transfer Act and others shaped the tech transfer landscape. We are honored to have him join us!
But I want to go back even further: Before the policies and structures were in place, the formation of the FLC required immense individual effort and drive – the same kind of drive we honor at our annual FLC Awards Ceremony. While there were many players, a handful of these leading pioneers became namesakes for modern tech transfer awards, and it’s worth a little focus on why we name these names are so important in the history of our profession.
Last month, we noted the passing of George Linsteadt, one of the FLC’s founding fathers. The Department of Defense (DoD) honors him annually with the George F. Linsteadt Award – and that is indeed high praise. Similarly, at the FLC Award Ceremony, we will honor the winner of the Harold Metcalf Award. Named for Linsteadt’s colleague and fellow T2 trailblazer, this award recognizes individuals involved in technology transfer activities who have provided noteworthy support to the technology transfer process, furthering the mission of the FLC.
Although the anniversary celebrates the 50 years since the FLC’s inception, the story of federal T2 began long before 1974. Our prologue begins during World War II.
While there is some earlier case law, the premise for federal tech transfer is laid out in “Science: The Endless Frontier,” a report from Vannevar Bush, the Director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development, to President Roosevelt. The idea is to use the vast R&D infrastructure that had been developed to win the war to help support economic development at home. Bush's support leads to the creation of the National Science Foundation (we’ll get back to that) and promotes the idea of tech transfer. This same idea is put into high gear in the 1958 Space Act, which creates NASA and a mandate to use the federally developed technology for commercial purposes.
Now, we shift to the Department of Defense. In 1969, Richard Nixon is President, the war in Vietnam is escalating, Apollo 11 lands on the Moon, and bell bottoms and Woodstock dominate the culture.
Picking up on the political environment for tech transfer and success from NASA, the Secretary of Defense establishes the DoD Domestic Action Program, a directive encouraging defense labs to apply their discoveries to domestic issues. Naval Weapons Center (NWC) China Lake takes an active interest and role in implementing this directive. The effort proves successful, and by 1971, the NWC Technology Utilization Office is created, headed by George Linsteadt.
The success of the Technology Utilization Office is apparent and leads to increasing interest from other DoD labs. The DoD Laboratory Consortium Plan is formed, and defense labs are invited to participate with the NWC as the lead. The plan has two objectives: transfer DoD tech to civilian agencies and transfer DoD tech among DoD labs. On July 1, 1971, representatives from 12 DoD labs meet and establish the DoD Technology Transfer Laboratory Consortium, naming Linsteadt as its Chair.
To support the Consortium, the NWC sends Harold Metcalf to serve at the National Science Foundation (NSF). In this role, Metcalf would coordinate tech transfer efforts with the NSF as a funding source. While at NSF, Metcalf begins drawing more agencies and support for the DoD.
In 1972, the country is in turmoil with the Watergate scandal. The fledgling DoD Consortium quickly sees success, and leaders start working actively with state and local economic development entities to build support. It is decided to create a charter for the consortium and keep Linsteadt as Chair. In 1973, the DoD Consortium charter is adopted with a stated goal to minimize bureaucracy – despite the issue raised that the charter itself created potential bureaucracy.
By 1974, the Vietnam War is in its last stages, President Nixon resigns and is succeeded by Gerald Ford. With its new charter, the Consortium continues to grow. Through his role at NSF, Metcalf increases his liaison efforts with other agencies including the recently formed Environmental Protection Agency. Metcalf’s outreach results in broad interest in technology transfer, including contact from industry. Metcalf adopts a larger federal lab perspective and continues bringing in more agencies. As he prepares to retire in 1974, Metcalf proposes a modest $100K budget for the Consortium in 1975 to ensure the new organization continues after his departure.
Metcalf's tireless efforts pay off with broad support for the Consortium – internally at DoD, politically from state and local governments, and among industry partners. On November 14, 1974, the DoD Technology Transfer Laboratory Consortium votes to approve the formation of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer. The FLC is born!
Although the new Consortium is not in statute until the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, the FLC of 1974 had many similarities to what we see today. At our Town Hall, we will pick up on this story: We’ll explore how these events led to the passage of the Stevenson-Wydler Act and Bayh-Dole Act in 1980, and how things moved forward from there. For a preview of our Town Hall conversation, read Joe’s article on the growth of technology transfer at federal labs, “A Long, Hard Journey: From Bayh-Dole to the Federal Technology Transfer Act.”
Despite our excitement for the FLC’s golden anniversary, we recognize that the ongoing Continuing Resolution (CR) for Fiscal Year 2024 could jeopardize government employees’ attendance at the National Meeting, along with the many other challenges. While a lapse in funding (i.e., shutdown) seems very unlikely, this will not be resolved until we get very close to the meeting. We have done what we can to make the National Meeting accessible. Attendees have the option to register now and pay later for the National Meeting, which not only accommodates the federal credit card cycle but also becomes especially useful with the CR. Similarly, we suggest getting a hotel reservation early and using the hotel’s cancellation policy if necessary – many hotels (including the Sheraton Dallas) need just 72 hours notice.
By the way, if the budget process seems foreign or you want to know more about how it works, check out the recording of our webinar, “An Overview of the Federal Budget Process,” presented by yours truly.
We hope to see you in Dallas!