Challenges in technology infusion: Adapting best practices from the private sector

Strategic technology roadmap exercises typically identify technology gaps and determine resource needs. In practice, closing the gaps is remarkably difficult. Internal development efforts sometimes flounder, and small businesses have experienced limited success in becoming vendors. Unfortunately, the financial crisis of 2008 has intensified the problem, forcing a shrinking venture capital industry to avoid aerospace technologies. Federal investment in small business technology development will likely increase, with no guarantee of improved returns. The need for effective technology transfer has grown as NASA's priorities have moved from commercializing internal development to introducing external innovations, but success seems elusive. On the other hand, many companies in the private sector excel at accelerating innovation. This document describes the funding environment for small businesses, identifies selected best practices in the private sector, and synthesizes them into recommendations for improved technology transfer from internal and external development sources.