Stephen Crutchfield: Inside FLC's T2 Mechanisms Chatbot for Federal Tech Transfer

Release date: July 21, 2026

Federal technology transfer can be difficult to navigate, especially for someone approaching a government laboratory for the first time. From CRADAs and licensing agreements to material transfer agreements, each option serves a different purpose. Simply figuring out where to begin can become a hurdle before a conversation ever takes place.

Stephen Crutchfield helped develop the Federal Laboratory Consortium's T2 Mechanisms chatbot, a tool designed to make that first step easier. Users describe what they hope to accomplish with the government and what resources they need. The chatbot then points them toward a mechanism that may fit their situation while offering a straightforward explanation of how it works.

In this episode, Stephen shares how the team turned dozens of federal authorities into a much simpler decision tree. We talk about the work involved in refining the chatbot and why it is meant to guide users rather than replace a technology transfer professional. He also explains how a clearer starting point could make federal laboratory partnerships feel more accessible to companies and researchers.

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In This Episode:

[02:32] Stephen explains how the T2 Mechanisms chatbot helps people outside the federal government find a possible starting point.
[04:08] The team reviewed federal laws and agency authorities before narrowing them into simpler concepts.
[06:45] An extensive spreadsheet evolved into a decision tree built around what non-federal partners hope to accomplish.
[08:25] Each result includes a recommended mechanism with an explanation and references to the authority behind it.
[09:02] The tool introduces users to their options while leaving the final recommendation to technology transfer professionals.
[11:12] Testing the decision tree required repeated adjustments when certain answers produced the wrong result.
[11:40] Feedback from the technology transfer community could help shape future versions of the chatbot.
[12:33] The generated recommendation also teaches users about the basics of each mechanism.
[13:08] A reminder to explore the chatbot with different inputs and see how its recommendations change.