|
Tracing From Applied Research Programs to Downstream Applications: Approach and Findings
|
| Presenter(s):
|
| Rosalie Ruegg, TIA Consulting Inc, ruegg@ec.rr.com
|
| Patrick Thomas, 1790 Analytics LLC, pthomas@1790analytics.com
|
| Abstract:
The use of historical tracing to investigate knowledge creation and dissemination has received recent attention by The U.S. Department of Energy in a set of five studies of renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development programs. The purpose of the studies was to assess the existence and strength of evidence connecting program knowledge outputs to downstream commercial outcomes both within and outside the industry of program focus. The approach starts with program strategies and activities, identifies its principal knowledge outputs, and documents paths of knowledge flow using multiple evaluation techniques: patent and publication citation analysis, publication co-author analysis, document and database review, a review of licensing, and interviews with expert — thus providing a fuller assessment of linkages than could be accomplished using a single technique. The program areas examined using this approach include wind energy, solar photovoltaic energy, geothermal energy, vehicle energy storage, and vehicle advanced combustion research.
|
|
Evaluating Ohio's Portfolio of Technology Programs
|
| Presenter(s):
|
| David Cheney, SRI International, david.cheney@sri.com
|
| Jennifer Ozawa, SRI International, jennifer.ozawa@sri.com
|
| Chris Ordowich, SRI International, christopher.ordowich@sri.com
|
| Abstract:
The Ohio Third Frontier Program, the Thomas Edison Program, and the Ohio Venture Capital Authority constitute a comprehensive set of state technology and financing programs which span the technology commercialization continuum, from research and idea creation through to market entry and competitiveness of mature companies through product innovation. In 2008, the Ohio Department of Development, which oversees the state’s technology programs, requested that SRI conduct a rigorous and credible assessment of the impacts of its key technology programs on Ohio’s current economy, as well as future indicators of impact. The quantitative and qualitative results of this study formed the empirical basis for strong bipartisan support to place an initiative to renew and expand the $1.4 billion, 10-year Third Frontier Program on the May 2010 ballot. This paper discusses SRI’s methodology for determining the quantitative and qualitative impacts of the program and discusses the strengths, weaknesses, and lessons learned from the approach.
|
| |