Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and technology transfer

This paper is the first in a planned series of research topics relating to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and their role in Federal research and development (R&D) technology transfer. In this initial paper, the authors (1) briefly outline the historical development of FFRDCs; (2) discuss the statutory and regulatory definition of FFRDCs; (3) examine FFRDC funding levels in the context of the total national R&D resource levels; and (4) provide the most recent organizational information of all FFRDCs. Future research directions relating to technology transfer aspects of FFRDCs are discussed.<>