Conflicts threaten DOE's technology transfer effort

Journal Article · Mon Feb 22 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Energy Daily; (United States)

OSTI ID:7022722

Lobsenz, G

Despite clear evidence of conflict of interest, managers at Los Alamos national Laboratory allowed two employees to use their lab positions to promote outside businesses selling technology they developed at Los Alamos, the Energy Department's inspector general says. In findings that could [open quotes]seriously jeopardize[close quotes] DOE's technology transfer program, Inspector General John Layton said the University of California - the operator of Los Alamos - knew for more than two years that the employees had apparent conflicts of interest. However, lab managers failed to stop them from using laboratory resources and official contacts to further their financial interests in their [open quotes]spin-off[close quotes] businesses. Layton said his Los Alamos audit raised management issues that threatened DOE's entire technology transfer program, which is considered crucial to the future vitality of the department's national laboratories. The transfer of lab-developed technology to the private sector is seen by Congress, DOE officials and lab directors as the key mission of the national labs now that their Cold War-era nuclear weapons activities are winding down.

• OSTI ID: 7022722
• Journal Information: Energy Daily; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Daily; (United States) Vol. 21:34; ISSN 0364-5274; ISSN ENDADJ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
295000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels
LANL
LEGAL ASPECTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS