Researchers point the way to better commercialisation policies

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which oversees technology transfer in the United States, has backed two reports conveying researchers’ views on the policies needed to boost universities’ commercialisation efforts.

A report published by the NIST on 24 April as part of the United States’ national Return on Investment initiative proposes to “unleash American innovation” by cutting red tape, strengthening links to industry development experts and improving researchers’ understanding of global technology trends.

The US has “led the world” in R&D since the second world war, but that leadership “is being challenged on a global scale,” the report said. In his foreword, Nist director Walter Copan said the feedback from researchers would be used to “enhance the US innovation engine”.