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Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in the Public Works ...

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<strong>Innovation</strong> <strong>and</strong> Technology Transfer <strong>Opportunities</strong>:<br />

Industry/University/Government Partnerships<br />

William D. Michalerya, P.E.<br />

Manager of Industry Liaison <strong>and</strong> Technology Transfer<br />

NSF Center <strong>for</strong> Advanced Technology<br />

<strong>for</strong> Large Structural Systems (ATLSS)<br />

Lehigh University<br />

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania<br />

<strong>Innovation</strong>, technology transfer, <strong>and</strong> competitiveness issues<br />

are receiv<strong>in</strong>g more attention recently, <strong>and</strong> with good reason.<br />

Clearly to be competitive on a global basis, <strong>the</strong> United States<br />

must <strong>in</strong>novate <strong>and</strong> move technologies to practice more effectively,<br />

as well as rebuild <strong>the</strong> national <strong>in</strong>frastructure. This paper will<br />

explore opportunities from <strong>the</strong> perspective of a university research<br />

center created to enhance <strong>the</strong> competitive position of <strong>the</strong><br />

large structures <strong>and</strong> construction <strong>in</strong>dustries through <strong>the</strong> development<br />

<strong>and</strong> implementation of advanced technology. Large structures<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude bridges, build<strong>in</strong>gs, offshore structures, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r major<br />

<strong>in</strong>frastructure facilities.<br />

The ATLSS Center was established by <strong>the</strong> National Science<br />

Foundation <strong>in</strong> 1986 with a mission <strong>in</strong> four areas: research, education,<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry collaboration <strong>and</strong> technology transfer, <strong>and</strong> large<br />

scale experimentation. ATLSS is one of n<strong>in</strong>eteen Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Research Centers currently funded by <strong>the</strong> National Science Foundation.<br />

The emphasis on <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry partnership is an important<br />

requirement <strong>and</strong> was clearly seen as a mechanism to enhance <strong>in</strong>novation<br />

<strong>and</strong> technology transfer.<br />

Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g Research<br />

Centers<br />

FIGURE 1<br />

153<br />

'Ui @ersities'

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