Dynamos of the Economy

Norine Noonan

Over the past 15 years, the U.S. government, particularly the Clinton administration, has made a strong and steady commitment to investments in science and technology to keep that economic engine chugging along. The fundamental research in a wide range of disciplines supported by the government as far back as the 1970s has spawned entire new industries, products, and processes. Who would have predicted a cell phone in every pocket, computers the size of the palm of your hand, and plants that contain their own pesticides? Indeed, these industries rest on the foundation of basic research funded by many federal agencies over many years – and our economy continues to benefit from those investments. But let me be clear – our current economic boom relies on much more than just the science or just the technology. It relies on an environment where research, knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, market forces, and cooperation between government, industry and academia can come together in a synergistic way – so that innovation and risk taking are fostered, nurtured, and, of course, rewarded.

At EPA we are proud to be part of the economic revolution now taking place. We firmly believe that economic growth and environmental protection are compatible national goals – indeed, they are synergistic. Several years ago, however, we realized we could and should do more to accelerate the pace of development, validation, and application of innovative environment technologies. To that end, we launched the Superfund Innovative Technology

“Technology transfer and technology commercialization, . . . together with innovation and discovery, are the dynamos of the economy of the new century.” Norine Noonan Assistant Administrator for Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Evaluation program (SITE), the Re-invention for Innovative Technology (ReFIT) program, the State Small Business Assistance Program, and the Environmental Technology Verification Program (ETV), in which Battelle is a partner. More recently, we have engaged Battelle to manage the Environmental Technology Commercialization Center (ETC2). These programs share many characteristics: partnerships between the Agency, the private sector, and, where appropriate, universities; innovative approaches to the exchange of information, technology and ideas; a focus on high-quality results and putting “know-how” to work. All of these programs contribute to meeting the Agency’s mission: to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment on which all life depends.

As we enter this new millennium and as EPA looks to the future, it is clear to me that all government agencies must do everything they can to help move research and technology from their laboratories to the marketplace. We’ve already made tremendous progress, but we can do more and we can do better.

Why should we care about technology transfer and technology commercialization? Because, together with innovation and discovery, they are the dynamos of the economy of the new century – and each will continue to have a profound impact on how we live. EPA is committed to technology transfer. We are pleased to have Battelle as a partner in these activities.