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Preface 



As the United States adjusts to the end of the Cold War, global competitive- 

 ness is joining military preparedness as a national goal. The federal government 

 is striving to achieve the proper balance between defense and domestic spending; 

 consequently, greater emphasis is being placed on maximizing return on federal 

 investment in research and development. Any activity that leads to more produc- 

 tive use of U.S. research dollars leads to a healthier economy and strengthens the 

 national defense. The Department of the Navy is therefore exploring the nonmili- 

 tary benefits of naval technology. As discussed in a report of the National 

 Research Council's Ocean Studies Board (OSB) Oceanography in the Next De- 

 cade: Building New Partnerships: 



Economic prosperity in a global marketplace dep)ends increasingly on technical 

 and scientific applications. There is concern about the ability of the United 

 States 10 compete with Europe and Asia. Basic and applied research in the 

 marine sciences and engineering is necessary to achieve and maintain a compet- 

 itive position in a host of fields, including marine biotechnology, aquaculture, 

 hydrocarbon and mineral exploration and production, maribrae transportation, 

 fisheries, treatment and disposal of waste, and freshwater extraction. (National 

 Research Council, 1992a, p. 3-4) 



Effective military use of the considerable scientific and engineering resources 

 represented by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Department of the Navy, 

 relies on adequate and timely transfer of research and technology to the fleet. To 

 maximize the nonmilitary benefits of naval research, similar accomplishments 

 must be achieved in domestic technology transfer. 



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