SCIENCE. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, 1970-79 599 



in the California primary had contributed to Miller's defeat in June 

 1972, he was far less than enthusiastic about a measure which Mc- 

 Govern contended was crucial in his Presidential campaign. When 

 Bell emotionally told the subcommittee that his constituents were 

 unhappv with more studies and they were demanding a solution, 

 Miller bit his head off: 



Aren't there lots of things the public is not happy about? We are not a bit happy 

 that we have not found a cure for the common cold. 



INNOVATION AND PRODUCTIVITY 



In 1979, the Brown subcommittee blazed a new trail in an area 

 where there had been little or no exploration, but considerable dis- 

 cussion. On July 2, 1979, Brown introduced the "National Science and 

 Technology Innovation Act of 1979'' Cosponsors included Ertel, Wat- 

 kins, Wydler and Hollenbeck. In explaining the new legislation, 

 Brown stated there were two main thrusts: 



First, the establishment of an Office of Industrial Technology within the Depart- 

 ment of Commerce, and second, the establishment of a number of centers for industrial 

 technology. 



The Office of Industrial Technology would study the role of technology in the 

 Nation's economy and identify technological needs and opportunities that are im- 

 portant to the national economy. The Office would recommend measures to advance 

 U.S. technological innovation. 



The centers for industrial technology would be located at universities or other 

 nonprofit institutions. They would conduct research supportive of technological and 

 industrial innovation, assist in the evaluation of technological innovations, advise 

 industry, and train entrepreneurs. 



The introduction of this legislation was preceded by several 

 months of intensive investigation and research, as well as several 

 hearings. 



In May, Fuqua sponsored a Conference on Technology and Inno- 

 vation for Manufacturing in the committee hearing rooms. Professor 

 D. Tesar of the University of Florida presented a paper on the weak- 

 ening of the U.S. position in manufactured goods. He pointed out that 

 although we were strong in chemicals and electronics, there were 

 multibillion-dollar trade deficits in heavy and light machinery. 



On June 5, 1979, the Brown subcommittee joined with the 1979 

 Engineers Public Affairs Forum — a group of 20 national engineering 

 societies holding their annual meeting in Washington, D.C. A panel 

 of four engineers discussed with the subcommittee what the govern- 

 ment roles are in encouraging or retarding innovation from the initial 

 stages of basic research, through invention and demonstration, to 

 production engineering. Brown stated: 



I am concerned that this country may be losing its competitive edge. Members of 

 the subcommittee share my concern, and we intend to do something about it. 



