Engineering Research Centers:
NSF Program Management and Industry Sponsorship
RCED-88-177: Published: Aug 16, 1988. Publicly Released: Aug 16, 1988.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) Program, focusing on: (1) NSF program operation and evaluation; and (2) industry sponsors' reaction to the program.
GAO found that: (1) research quality was the most important criterion in awarding center grants, with contribution to industrial competitiveness and education following in importance; (2) NSF formally monitored ERC management and research agenda through yearly on-site reviews and ERC-prepared strategic plans; (3) NSF used outside peer reviews to evaluate individual centers once every 3 years, but believed it was too early to evaluate the overall strengths and weaknesses of the ERC approach; (4) a wide range of industries participated in the program, and most intended to continue their support; (5) participants believed that the type and quality of research was the most important reason for sponsoring centers; (6) participants expected to benefit over time through better personnel recruiting and improvement of current personnel, but not through patentable or commercialized products; (7) it was too early to determine the program's impact on engineering education because it had been in place for only a short period of time, and industry sponsors have not hired many ERC program graduates; and (8) participants believed that NSF should increase participants' influence on the ERC research agenda.
Feb 7, 2014
Nanomanufacturing:
Emergence and Implications for U.S. Competitiveness, the Environment, and Human HealthGAO-14-181SP: Published: Jan 31, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 7, 2014.
Dec 20, 2013
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Small Business Innovation Research:
DOD's Program Supports Weapon Systems, but Lacks Comprehensive Data on Technology Transition OutcomesGAO-14-96: Published: Dec 20, 2013. Publicly Released: Dec 20, 2013.
Nov 4, 2013
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Small Business Innovation Research:
Data Rights ProtectionsGAO-14-116R: Published: Nov 4, 2013. Publicly Released: Nov 4, 2013.
Jul 19, 2013
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America COMPETES Acts:
Overall Appropriations Have Increased and Have Mainly Funded Existing Federal Research EntitiesGAO-13-612: Published: Jul 19, 2013. Publicly Released: Jul 19, 2013.
Apr 10, 2013
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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education:
Governmentwide Strategy Needed to Better Manage Overlapping ProgramsGAO-13-529T: Published: Apr 10, 2013. Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2013.
Feb 15, 2013
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
Continued Coordination, Operational Data, and Performance Standards Needed to Guide Research and DevelopmentGAO-13-346T: Published: Feb 15, 2013. Publicly Released: Feb 15, 2013.
Jun 20, 2012
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Nanotechnology:
Improved Performance Information Needed for Environmental, Health, and Safety ResearchGAO-12-427: Published: May 21, 2012. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2012.
Jan 24, 2012
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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education:
Survey of Federal Programs (GAO-12-110SP, January 2012), an E-supplement to GAO-12-108GAO-12-110SP: Published: Jan 20, 2012. Publicly Released: Jan 24, 2012.
Nov 7, 2011
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Next Generation Air Transportation System:
Linking Test Facilities Can Help Leverage Resources and Improve Technology Transfer EffortsGAO-12-187T: Published: Nov 7, 2011. Publicly Released: Nov 7, 2011.
Nov 1, 2011
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Technology Assessment:
Neutron Detectors: Alternatives to Using Helium-3GAO-11-753: Published: Sep 29, 2011. Publicly Released: Nov 1, 2011.
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