551 



2 EXPANDING THE USES OF NAVAL OCEAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



ing existing ONR programs and reviewing the needs of academic marine scien- 

 tists, marine industries, and government agencies. The committee could not 

 explore all possible industrial applications of ONR technology but instead fo- 

 cused its attention on four important marine user groups: (I) the oil and gas 

 industry (i.e., exploration, production, and pipeline operation), (2) fisheries, (3) 

 environmental companies, and (4) marine equipment and service providers. Be- 

 cause of their economic dominance, these four groups represent that segment of 

 the nonmilitary, marine industrial sector that the committee concluded could 

 benefit the most from future ONR-supported research and technology develop- 

 ment. Examples of successful technology transfer strategies and programs em- 

 ployed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration were also exam- 

 ined. 



Information provided by representatives of ONR and the nonmiUtary sector 

 at committee meetings, as well as the resulting discussions, demonstrated that 

 only a relatively small portion of the available marine technology developed by 

 ONR is being used by the nonmihtary sector. The degree of transfer and causes 

 of any suboptimal transfer differ for various user groups (e.g., academic scientists 

 versus small commercial service providers). Despite this complexity, two themes 

 emerged from the information gathered: (1) ONR appears to lack a suitable 

 system to measure and reward successful transfer of technology to the nonmih- 

 tary sector, and (2) ONR does not appear to be sufficiently aware of private sector 

 needs to target its technology transfer efforts effectively. The committee devel- 

 oped specific findings and recommendations related to ONR R&D and associated 

 technology transfer programs. 



ONR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 



Finding: The Office of Naval Research supports leading-edge research and 

 development (R&D) in many areas of ocean science and technology with appli- 

 cations for nonmihtary users. 



ONR-supported research accounts for a tremendous array of leading-edge 

 scientific discoveries and technological developments with potential application 

 to nonmilitary problems (see Chapter 4). These products range from coatings and 

 materials to reduce ship corrosion at sea to sophisticated computer models for 

 predicting the fate and transport of oil spills (see Chapter 2). The high-quaUty 

 scientific research and technology development supported by ONR are an impor- 

 tant component of the Navy's efforts to maintain combat readiness and tactical 

 advantage. The com.mittee recognizes that R&D supported by ONR is of vital 

 importance to fleet effectiveness and national defense. Many of ONR's marine 

 research programs and the resulting products, as well as the expertise they repre- 

 sent, have no equivalent in the nonmilitar>' sector. 



