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REVIEW OF ONR TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAMS 1 7 



The amount of transferable technology in the coatings area (see Tables D6 

 and D7 in Appendix D), though already significant, is likely to increase because 

 of regulatory constraints and the high-quahty research supported by ONR. ONR 

 also supports research on corrosion inhibitors and anodic protection (passivity) at 

 NRL and several universities. Several additional projects sponsored through 

 ONR's Small Business Innovation Research program involve possible sensor 

 technology for detecting various forms of localized corrosion in marine environ- 

 ments. The potential for technology transfer should increase in the future be- 

 cause of (1) the environmental concerns mentioned above (e.g., how Navy activi- 

 ties affect the environment or workplace), and (2) the Navy's continued desire to 

 prolong the life of ship systems in the extreme conditions of the marine environ- 

 ment. 



The high-quahty, scientific research and the technology development sup- 

 ported by ONR are an important component of the Navy's efforts to maintain 

 combat readiness and tactical advantage. The committee recognizes that R&D 

 supported by ONR is of vital importance for fleet effectiveness and national 

 defense. Many of the marine research efforts described above, and the expertise 

 they represent, do not exist outside ONR-supported programs. It is, therefore, 

 unfortunate that few of the products discussed thus far have been successfully 

 transferred to the nonmihtary sector. Much of the value has yet to be discovered 

 by the commercial user. Tangible products are generally the first to be trans- 

 ferred, although slowly. Despite an apparent broadening of customer need for 

 hardware and for interpreted information, there is no formal mechanism in place 

 to transfer models and information to users outside the defense industry. 



