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I -—--, - _.. Session 2617 ..

-. . . ..- Technology Transfer: The Key to Progress

Fazil T. Najafi, D. Gibson Peaslee, and Greg Bowyer University of Florida, Department of Civil Engineering

Abstract

The transfer of technology has been a technique of human survival and prosperity since prehistoric times. 2 Today, the world recognizes the importance of technology transfer (T ). The United States pushes hard to transfer technology to end users. Technology transfer refers to all the activities leading to the adoption, adapta- tion, or demonstration of a new product or procedure by any group of users. Due to political considerations, it is sometimes diflicult to transfer technology to some parts of the world where relations are not friendly with the United States. In general, the United States willingly shares certain technologies with other countries. Most often the problem is a lack of resources in other countries to understand a technology and implement it. In the U. S., the implementation aspects of research products are channeled through federal agencies to the state level and back. The process that aims at convincing the public to use the improved technology to save time and resources, challenges both state and federal levels. 2 In this paper, we focus on T Centers relevant only to transportation technology transfer programs. In the United States, there are many active T* Centers using short courses, video-based technology, and advanced technical training with aims to transfer the most vital practical knowledge into actual practice. State govern- ments also make special efforts to help put research into practice for their cities and counties. This process is channeled by encouraging counties and cities to: a) establish an advisory panel; b) develop a prospectus for goals and guidelines; c) engage county and city administrators to set up educational sessions on how to learn and implement the technology; d) develop an in-house implementation plan to include slide tapes, video tapes, tech- nical advisories or sometimes engage a consultant to prepare an implementation plan for their local areas. The 2 project staff also works with various T centers to get help in their implementation plans as well as get help in distributing more research information.

The Problem 2 The biggest challenge of an outreach program in T is in achieving its end objectives to: coordinate; identify effectiveness of and problems in information transmission; reduce fragmentation; maximize effectiveness; increase state and private sector roles; and address major transportation problems.

~hh~ 1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings qyulll~’:

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Bowyer, G., & Peaslee, D. G., & Najafi, F. (1996, June), Technology Transfer: The Key To Progress Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--6345