165 



• Tliose eiifragcd in the direct use of the sea, 

 siicii us ivsotirces, transportation, and rec- 

 reation industries 



• Those participatiufi' in a supporting role 

 tiiroiijih tiie development and production 

 of hardware 



• Those which provide sucli services as geo- 

 physical exploration, diving, construction 

 and salvage. 



These distinctions are in some measure 

 yielding to a growing tendency for companies 

 to engage in two or three of these categories 

 of activity. Thus, the oil industry and its 

 contractore produce much of their own hard- 

 ware, while some hardware and service com- 

 panies are beginning to engage in resource 

 development. 



.Vlthough hardware and service companies 

 are likely to assume a key role in advancing 

 technology, this work must be geared realisti- 

 cally to the needs of the resource industries. 

 Hence, there is a strong need to ensure that 

 the resource industries participate in plan- 

 ning the proposed marine technology pro- 

 grams and Xational Projects in order to en- 

 sure that technology does not l>ecome an end 

 in itself. It is hoped that the National Ad- 

 visory Committee for the Oceans will foster 

 the required interchange of information to 

 ensure that the technologj- programs are 

 channeled where the needs are most pressing. 



Afany recent studies demonstrate the great 

 importance to the Nation of ensuring an ade- 

 ([uatc le\el of technology transfer and em- 

 ])hasix,e tlie enormity and complexity of the 

 task. Tiiere are several important factors 

 wiiich bear on the transfer process : 



• Training programs can help interested 

 firms, but actual participation in technical 

 jtrograms is more effective. Awarding sur- 

 vey and development contracts to industry 

 fosters the gi'owth of more companies 

 capable of using the new knowledge in 



commercial markets. 



• Patent policy has strong effects on the 

 pi'ocess of transferring some forms of 

 knowledge to commercial applications. The 

 policies of Federal agencies wnth respect 

 to the patental)ility of developments 

 achieved under Government research and 

 development contracts are of particular 

 interest and importance. It is vital that 

 the patent aspects of the National Oceanic 

 and Atmospheric Agency's technology 

 programs be administered in a manner to 

 stimulate commercial applications of new 

 developments and cause participation in 

 the program to be attractive to industrial 

 contractors. 



• Access to unpublicized or restricted De- 

 partment of Defense information at the 

 eai'liest possible time consistent with na- 

 tional security is also important. Such 

 access is most readily achieved by large 

 firms that have a continuing contractual 

 relationship with the military services. 

 Procedures have been developed in the 

 atomic energy field for industry-Govern- 

 ment collaboration in assuring the maxi- 

 nnnn dissemination of information con- 

 sistent with security requirements. The 

 Commission believes that similar pro- 

 cedures might be adopted appropriately 

 to facilitate transfer of marine technology. 



• Active and continuing connnunication mvist 

 be maintained between the producers and 

 users of technology. Suggestions for 

 stimulating such communication have been 

 advanced in Chapter 2. 



Supporting Services 



-Vn adequate background of supporting 

 teciniical services, as outlined in Chapter 6, 

 also is necessary to industi'y's entry into the 

 sea. The Commission found particularly 

 strong industry interest in improved marine 

 weathei' services and severe storm warnings. 



