The Office of Technology Transitions emphasizes how DOE’s long-term investments in science and technology have grown into critical technologies that support the economic, energy, environment, and national security missions of the Department. OTT analyzes and evaluates programs and collects metrics for technology transitions across the Department.

Evaluation metrics, outputs and outcomes, and other information from national laboratories are analyzed to understand the Department’s impact on the commercial sector. Studies are conducted on the programs and activities, such as the Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot, to inform DOE decision-making and policy-setting. Additionally, in-depth case studies will be conducted on specific technology areas to be used to evaluate the impact of DOE’s research, development, demonstration, and deployment portfolio. In fact, OTT is implementing longitudinal studies that will track projects awarded under the Technology Commercialization Fund for five years after their initial research at a national lab to better determine the impact and evolution of the technologies and partnerships.

One of the key activities in the near-term is to conduct evaluations that assess the effectiveness of technology transition pilot programs through peer reviewed, rigorous, evidence-based reports. Future studies could include reviews of the:

-Technology Commercialization Fund

-Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot

-Lab Partnering Service

-Technology Transitions Awards

Additionally, the office will work to conduct technology impact case studies. These short white papers will examine and develop best practices, and they will communicate the broad impact of DOE-funded technology. The studies will focus on the energy, economic, and environmental impacts of specific commercialized technologies or platform technologies, such as high performance computing and nuclear energy technologies.

A complete set of cases studies, conducted in FY15, is available on the DOE-managed public-private consortia. The page provides summaries on their charters, operations, precompetitive joint research activities on platform technologies, memberships, successes, and lessons learned.