Lab featured as tech transfer role model

Contact: Kathy DeLucas, duke@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9198 (03-152)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Nov. 20, 2003 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory has been recognized as a leader in technology transfer practices and regional economic development in a recently issued Department of Commerce report. The URL to access the report is http://www.technology.gov/reports.htm online.

The Department of Commerce has issued a report titled, "Role of Federal Laboratories in Building Tech-led Economic Development: A Look at Best Practices."

Los Alamos is one of nine institutions recognized. The Laboratory stood out in the federal system because of several innovative and successful programs.

Since 1998, the Laboratory sponsored 47 master's of business administration students from 18 leading business schools to assist the Laboratory in transferring and commercializing technologies. These students also worked with several Northern New Mexico companies in their business and technology development activities. These activities contributed to 70 technology startups in Northern New Mexico.

In the past five years, the Laboratory has conducted more than 20 entrepreneurial training workshops involving more than 2,500 participants. In addition, the Laboratory sponsors Small Business Innovative Research training workshops for regional and startup companies.

New technology firms in Northern New Mexico that have been fostered by the Laboratory have secured more than $67 million in investment capital from various sources and have created more than 270 new jobs.

The Laboratory's Technology Maturation Fund will provide about $450,000 annually in awards to Los Alamos inventors to adapt their technologies for commercialization.

In addition, the Laboratory nurtured the establishment and growth of state professional associations in information technology and software development, biotechnology and biomedical sciences, and the Internet.

And lastly, 25 small firms occupy a local business incubator together with a research park that has major international firms with close ties to Los Alamos National Laboratory.

In 2002, the Commerce Department's Office of Technology Policy contracted with Innovation Associates to provide case studies on several exemplary federal lab programs supporting technology-led economic development. The purpose of this report is to provide policy-makers, economic development organizations, and federal labs and agencies with examples of effective partnerships, encouraging greater collaboration on tech-led economic development going forward.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

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