Mission
The Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) plays a pivotal role in expanding the public impact of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) portfolio. Its mission is to advance the economic, energy, and national security interests of the nation by ensuring the greatest return on investment from DOE's RDD&D activities to the taxpayer. As the front door to DOE's products, facilities, and expertise, OTC integrates "market pull" into its planning processes.
Hosting one of the world's largest science research enterprises, DOE empowers and secures America's future through technological advancement and strategic support. Its RDD&D capabilities foster innovations that maintain the United States' status as a global leader in science and technology. The formation of OTC (formerly the Office of Technology Transitions) in 2015, authorized by the Secretary of Energy, underscores the commitment to developing and overseeing the delivery of DOE's strategic vision and goals for technology commercialization and business and industrial sector engagement across the United States.
Statutory Authority
OTC's foundation is strongly supported by its statutory authority, drawing from pivotal legislations such as the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Energy Act of 2020. These statutes empower OTC to develop the Department's vision to expand the commercial impact of its research investments and streamline access to DOE's national labs and sites.
Operating under congressional statutes found in the United States Code Title 42—The Public Health and Welfare, OTC fulfills the requirements set forth in Chapter 149—National Energy Policy and Programs, Subchapter X—Department of Energy Management. Sections 16391 through 16396 lay down the guidelines for technology transfer leadership, policy, and program activity regulations. This includes overseeing the Technology Transfer Working Group and the Technology Commercialization Fund, authorizing technology-partnering activities at National Laboratories and facilities to fulfill the Department's mission.
OTC's engagement in developing policies, collaborating with DOE's National Laboratories, Site Offices, and Program Offices, reflects its commitment to advancing the Department's technology transfer mission. The Technology Transfer Working Group (TTWG), Technology Transfer Policy Board (TTPB), and National Laboratory Tech Transfer (NLTT) Working Group, along with the Laboratory Policy Council, are instrumental in exchanging information on best practices, identifying key issues, and developing strategies to enhance technology transfer activities.
By tracking over 70 technology-transfer-related metrics across all of DOE's laboratories, sites, and facilities, OTC produces two critical reports to Congress annually: the "Technology Transitions Execution Plan" and the "Report on Technology Transfer and Related Technology Partnering Activities at the National Laboratories and Other Facilities." These efforts exemplify OTC's dedicated approach to leveraging legislative mandates for fostering innovation and commercialization that benefit the American public.