The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is the nationwide network of federal laboratories that provides the forum to develop strategies and opportunities for linking laboratory mission technologies and expertise with the marketplace.
The FLC was organized in 1974 and formally chartered by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 to promote and strengthen technology transfer nationwide. Today, more than 250 federal laboratories and centers and their parent departments and agencies are FLC members.
The Consortium creates an environment that adds value to and supports the technology transfer efforts of its members and potential partners. The FLC develops and tests transfer methods, addresses barriers to the process, provides training, highlights grass-roots transfer efforts, and emphasizes national initiatives where technology transfer has a role. For the public and private sectors, the FLC brings laboratories together with potential users of government-developed technologies. This is in part accomplished by the FLC's Laboratory Locator network and regional and national meetings.
In consonance with the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 and related federal policy, the mission of the FLC is to promote and facilitate the rapid movement of federal laboratory research results and technologies into the mainstream of the U.S. economy.
The FLC's approach is to use a coordinated program that meets the technology transfer support needs of member laboratories, agencies, and their potential partners in the transfer process.
Vision
The vision of the FLC is to actively promote the fullest application and use of federal research and development by providing an environment for successful technology transfer. The Consortium will be the recognized leader in maximizing collaborative research and transferring federal technologies to enhance the socioeconomic well-being of the nation in the global marketplace.
Mission
The mission of the FLC is to add value to the federal agencies, laboratories, and their partners to accomplish the rapid integration of research and development resources within the mainstream of the U.S. economy.
Goals and Objectives
- Enhance communication by expanding communication among member agencies and their laboratories; to increase dialogue with state and local governments, businesses, academia, and other external participants; and to publicize best practices, solutions, and success stories.
- Leverage research and development investments by exploring innovative approaches to technical assistance and other technology transfer activities; reduce time, cost, and risk of R&D projects; and increase use of federal technology by all participants.
- Improve and innovate the technology transfer process by characterizing and analyzing agency technology transfer policy, procedures, and activities; to address barriers identified by external participants and others; provide fundamental and advanced education and training to enhance the technology transfer process; and provide federal agencies an analysis of key performance measurement elements and assessment options.
Strategies
- Create innovative partnerships
- Influence technology policy
- Optimize diverse resources
- Strengthen the FLC structure
- Lead the vision
- Project a positive and consistent image
Purpose of the FLC
- Promote and facilitate the full range of technical cooperation between the federal laboratories and America's large and small businesses, academia, state and local governments, and federal agencies.
- Provide direct services to member laboratories and agencies in support of their technology transfer efforts.
- Enhance efforts that couple federal laboratories with American industry and small businesses to strengthen the nation's economic competitiveness.
- Stimulate acceptance by the U.S. private and public sectors of the federal laboratory system and technology transfer as valuable assets.
- Collaborate with local, state, regional and national organizations that promote technical cooperation.
- Promote further development and adoption of effective methods for federal laboratory domestic technology transfer.
- Improve the effectiveness of individual and organizational efforts in technology transfer through training, recognition, awards and evaluation of the FLC program.
- Participate in and sponsor the development of novel models for federal laboratory cooperation with state, local, or private nonprofit technology transfer organizations.
- Serve as an interagency forum to develop and strengthen nationwide technology transfer in support of national policy.
FLC Membership
To become a member of the FLC, please complete our Membership Application and fax it to the FLC Management Support Office (MSO) at 856-667-8009.
FLC Policies
Benefits to Stakeholders
Learn how the FLC and technology transfer benefit its major stakeholders.
FLC Initiatives
The FLC has identified several initiatives as specific technology transfer goals. Listed below are those initiatives and links to information about what the FLC has accomplished.
The FLC assists federal researchers, like those pictured here from the Agricultural Research Service, with moving their technologies and expertise to the commercial marketplace.
The FLC exhibits at trade shows throughout the year to promote federal technology transfer.
