As a result of a 1958 congressional
mandate, NASA, in 1962, created the Technology
Utilization Program. It was supported by Technology
Utilization Offices at each of the field centers
and four Industrial Applications Centers (IACs).
The number of IACs grew rapidly to seven by
the early 1970s and ten in the early 1980s.
Early studies of Tech
Briefs, the publication dedicated to informing
the scientific community about available NASA
technologies, and ongoing requests received for
supporting information, indicated a strong need
in the private sector for new technology to aid
in the development of commercial products and
services.
When spinoff products began to emerge from space
technologies, NASA considered the possibility
of an annual report to present at congressional
budget hearings. The result was a black and white
“Technology Utilization Program Report,” published
in 1973, followed by another one in 1974. The
technologies in these reports created interest
in the technology transfer concept, its successes,
and its use as a public awareness tool. The reports
generated such keen interest by the public that
NASA decided to make them into an attractive
publication. Thus, the first four-color edition
of Spinoff was published in 1976.
Each year since, a new issue has highlighted the
transfer of NASA technology to the private sector.
The Agency distributes copies to politicians, economic
decision makers, company CEOs, academics, professionals
in technology transfer, the news media, and the general
public.
NASA’s Spinoff publication
accomplishes several
goals. First, it is a
convincing justification
for the continued expenditure
of NASA funds. It serves
as a tool to educate
the media and the general
public by informing them
about the benefits and
dispelling the myth of
wasted taxpayer dollars.
It reinforces interest
in space exploration.
It demonstrates the possibility
to apply aerospace technology
in different environments.
It highlights the ingenuity
of American inventors,
entrepreneurs, and application
engineers, and the willingness
of a government agency
to assist them. And finally,
it continues to ensure
global competitiveness
and technological leadership
by the United States.
The total number of stories published since 1976 is over 1,500, which does not
include approximately 100 stories featured in the 1973 and 1974 reports.
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