SUMMARY
■
C O R P O R A T I O N
Application of Logic Models to
Facilitate DoD Laboratory Technology
Transfer
Eric Landree and Richard Silberglitt
• The key element of successful technology transfer is that
program efforts must lead to a product that could lead
to new military operations, changes in existing opera-
tions or procedures, or direct use by the warghter.
•
Log
ic models can help the Department of Defense moni-
tor and track technology transfer from laboratories to
customers and assess efforts that may lead to capability
improvements.
• Our method describes the laboratory operations to help
create a denition of “successful technology transfer”
that may be applied across the Defense Laboratory
Enterprise.
Key findings
e Department of Defense (DoD)
laboratories are sources of new ideas and technologies
that can provide military and capability advantages to
the warghter over U.S. adversaries. However, for that
advantage to be realized, these new ideas and technolo-
gies almost always must be transferred from the laboratory
to industry or other organizations capable of developing
products or services. Over the years, federal organizations
have made eorts—including creating oces dedicated to
technology transfer—to accelerate the transfer of research
ndings and outputs to companies or other organiza-
tions. Still, there is not a universally accepted denition of
successful technology transfer or guidance for monitoring
transfer that can be applied across multiple laboratories or
research organizations.
is report describes a method that can be used to
help the DoD monitor and track technology transfer from laboratories to customers and assess the
success of eorts that may lead to capability improvements. Our method maps eorts associated
with technology transfer into a logic model framework that describes the laboratory operations and
can be used to create a denition of “successful technology transfer” that may be applied across the
Defense Laboratory Enterprise (DLE). Our method also provides guidance for developing measures
for monitoring successful technology transfer.
Figure S.1 shows the elements of a generic logic model. e logic model is a framework that can
be used to characterize and connect aspects of a research organization, beginning with the inputs
that drive the day-to-day operations of the organization and continuing all the way through to its
stated mission. Components on the left-hand side of the model are program eorts— elements
under the direct control of the organization. Inputs include money, formal requirements, technical
performance or capability specications, sta, research equipment, and facilities. Activities include
the conduct of research and development (R&D), the presentation of ndings, and the registration
of patents. Outputs may include scientic papers, reports, patents, and prototypes. Transfer activi-
