Prospecting for intellectual capital
Many nations have become aware of the importance of new technical developments in maintaining/regaining a competitive edge in the world marketplace. There are many national, state and local programs designed to reduce the time required to move new technology from the laboratory to the marketplace. These programs tend either to emphasize research or to assist entrepreneurs. Less emphasis appears to be placed on programs that encourage the development of intellectual capital (innovative inventions) that result from applying research discoveries in materials, electronics, optics, sensors, etc., to solve energy conservation problems and improve industrial productivity. A uniquely successful US Department of Energy (DOE) program in the Office of Energy Utilization Research (located in the Office of Conservation) is exploring methods of encouraging innovative invention. This ''invention laboratory,'' called the Innovative Concepts Program, applies cost-effective methods to encourage the process by which scientifically sound ideas are turned into innovative energy-saving concepts, i.e., intellectual capital. This paper briefly describes that ''invention laboratory,'' its methods and the very encouraging results attained to date. 3 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 7130513
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-15772; CONF-8806188-1; ON: DE88014076
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290500* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
COMMERCIALIZATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
GRANTS
MARKETING
PRODUCTIVITY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION