Research Partnership Programs

SC-LTR Program Overview

THE SC-LTR PROGRAM: INVESTING IN SCIENCE AND INNOVATION THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

• Full documentation on the SC-LTR Call for Proposals for FY2001

The Office of Science Laboratory Technology Research (SC-LTR) Program supports real industry-lab partnership projects. The projects, typically medium-to-high-risk multidisciplinary research, are focused on challenging scientific problems whose solutions have promising commercial potential. These partnerships capitalize on two great strengths of our country: the world-class basic research capability of the DOE Energy Research National Laboratories and the unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit of American industry.

Projects explore the applications of basic research advances in full range of scientific disciplines.

These collaborative research projects are cost-shared partnerships. The SC-LTR Program funds only the national laboratory's research, while the industry partner supports its research and often provides additional equipment, funds, or supplies to the laboratory. Thus, a laboratory and its industrial partners can explore scientific and technical approaches that would be too risky for either to undertake alone. Such work leverages the resources of both partners, since each frequently has unique and complementary facilities and expertise. The SC-LTR Program enhances opportunities to pursue technology research that is of value to industry, complements basic research program goals, and seeks to enhance public benefit from investment in scientific research at the national laboratories.

PROJECT SIZE, SCOPE, AND MECHANISMS

Different mechanisms are used to support this collaborative program. These include CRADAs (Cooperative Research and Development Agreements), Personnel Exchanges, MOUs (Memoranda of Understanding), Technology Maturation projects, and TAAs (Technical Assistance Agreements). Industry partners must at least match the Lab funding, and frequently provide additional funds in (cash to the Lab). Regardless of the mechanism, the common thread that runs throughout all SC-LTR partnerships is the joint commitment of the participants. In all cases, DOE funds support Laboratory researchers; no dollars pass to industry. At Berkeley Lab through FY2003, the SC-LTR program has funded over 100 projects with a combined research budget of approximately $100 million. Industry has contributed 65% of program funding (52% industry partner in-house funds and 13% industry partner cash contributions to the Lab) while DOE has funded 35%.

PARTNERSHIP PRINCIPLES PROPOSED BY LBNL

• Federal investments in public-private partnerships should have clear benefit for both the government and industry.
• Unique knowledge in a federally funded research facility can form the basis for a successful collaboration.
• Unique facilities at a federally funded laboratory can create opportunities for successful collaborations.
• Public-private partnerships should be encouraged that create a public good as the outcome.
• Direct federal funding of research and development in industry that primarily benefits the stockholder is likely to be inappropriate.

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SELECTED INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Partners include companies large and small, in a variety of industries, and a few nonprofits. Selected partners include:

Find out how to work together with Berkeley Lab .

FEEDBACK FROM INDUSTRY PARTNERS

In a recent survey (February 1998), industry partners ranked program performance in several key areas and indicated an industry demand for LTR partnerships that exceeds the DOE funding presently available. Some key findings:

• 91% of the survey respondents indicated they had benefited from partnering with the laboratories in the SC-LTR Program.
• 97% said they would like to partner again with one of the labs on a future research project.
• The greatest single benefit to the industry partners is obtaining specialized expertise and capabilities that are otherwise unavailable.

DOE OFFICE and OTHER LABS

Federal funding for this partnership program comes through DOE's Office of Science, Advanced Energy Projects and Technology Research Division (SC-32). In addition to Berkeley Lab, four other multi-program ER Labs participate (Argonne, Brookhaven, Oak Ridge, and Pacific Northwest) as do five single program labs (Ames, Fermilab, Jefferson Lab, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, and Stanford Linear Accelerator Center).

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact Chris Kniel in Berkeley Lab's Technology Transfer Department:

Brochures are available.

LINKS

• Full documentation on the SC-LTR Call for Proposals
• Full documentation on the SC-LTR call-for-proposals up to FY2000 (Other proposal formats, intellectual property background, and frequently asked questions.)
• Current DOE SC-LTR Project Summaries
• DOE SC-LTR Project Summaries
• Previous Proposal Information