FROM MINDS TO MARKETS


116 patents assigned to the secretary of the Army dating back to the 1970s—the record for an Army employee, accord- ing to the Patent and Trademark Office database.


COST BENEFITS FOR DOD


“Typically, the DOD’s investment in a new defense-related product, licensed from a DOD lab, is only around 15 per- cent of the total investment necessary,” said Swanson. “By licensing to industry, DOD can offload the large expense of converting an early-state prototype into a final product. It’s a very cost-effective way to acqure cutting-edge technology.”


Many products derived from Army inventions have both military and civil- ian applications. In those cases, the Army frequently saves money on procurement because it benefits from manufacturing economies of scale. Where there is a siz- able commercial market for a dual-use product, the Army will need to spend far less on acquiring that product than if it contracted with the defense industry to develop it. For example, rate-actuated tethers invented at ARL, which stretch and relax easily at normal stress but pro- vide dramatically increased resistance


force when pulled quickly, are being explored by small businesses for health care and sports applications. (See “Per Vivo Labs warms to tech transfer,” Page 183.)


“Contracting with a prime supplier for a custom design and production of a defense product


is usually far more


expensive,” Swanson said. “By patent- ing its inventions, the Army also protects itself from defense contractors and others laying claim to a technology,” he added.


“Without patent protection, the Army and other branches can end up paying twice for a product—once for the origi- nal R&D, and a second time by paying the contractor a premium price to use the patents that should belong to the DOD.”


Finally, when licensing its inventions to industry for commercial use, the Army earns revenue and is no longer respon- sible for patent maintenance costs.


CONCLUSION Partnerships between the private sector and the Army’s science and technology community benefit the warfighter and the American taxpayer, and help grow the national economy.


COOL CUSTOMERS


This insulated container for cold beverages, a high-tech ice chest that keeps water bottles cool far longer than existing ice chests, is one of 112 technologies developed by NSRDEC that are available for licensing. (U.S. Army photo by David Kamm, NSRDEC)


“Businesses provide upfront


payments


and ongoing royalties on the inventions they license. Tat enhances the return on the R&D investment while keeping the fighting force at a technological advan- tage,” said Swanson. “And by bringing industry partners into the fold, TechLink helps the Army’s science and technology community continue to innovate in ways that benefit the acquisition workforce.”


For more information, go to http:// techlinkcenter.org or contact Will Swear- ingen at wds@montana.edu.


MR. THOMAS MULKERN is chief of the Technology Transfer and Outreach Office at ARL, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. He is responsible for directing technology transfer programs as well as support


for outreach programs in science,


technology, engineering and mathematics. He holds an M.S. in plastics engineering from the University of Massachusetts and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University. He has published dozens of technical papers on polymer matrix composite research, and holds one U.S. patent. He is Level II certified in program management.


MR. TROY CARTER is the senior writer and editor at TechLink. He provides origi- nal reporting on technology transfer, visual media and marketing activity in support of the DOD laboratory system. He holds an M.A. in political science from American University of Beirut and a B.A. in politi- cal science from the American University in Cairo. He is a former infantry sergeant and combat veteran from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, serving in Afghanistan in 2003-04 and in Iraq in 2005-06.


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Army AL&T Magazine


January-March 2018


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