A Review of the New Initiatives at the NASA Ames Research Center: Summary of a Workshop

Description

NASA Ames Research Center, in the heart of Silicon Valley, is embarking on a program to develop a science and technology park bringing together leading companies and universities to capitalize on Amesa (TM) exceptional mission and location. Other initiatives under consideration include the integration of SBIR grants with a planned on-site incubator, virtual collaboration, and possibly a new public venture capital program. The STEP Board was asked by the NASA Administrator to hold a one-day symposium to review these initiatives. This report includes commissioned research papers and a summary of the proceedings of the symposium organized in response to the NASA request. Overview and summary of the workshop -- Introduction -- Proceedings -- Welcome / Henry McDoanld -- Opening remarks / Zoe Lofgren -- Panel I: Technology vision for NASA / Edward Penhoet NASA's technology strategy / Sam Venneri Ames' technology strategy / Henry McDonald -- Panel II: Research parks: concept, history, and metrics / David B. Audretsch, presenter Michael I. Luger, discussant Susan Hackwood -- Panel III: The Ames Research Park: goals and metrics / Patrick Windham The Ames Strategic Plan / William Berry Partnering with the University of California at Santa Cruz / M.R.C. Greenwood The role of Carnegie Mellon / Duane Adams, James Morris discussants Robert Wilson, Edward Penhoet, and Chron Corporation -- Panel IV: SBIR initiatives and mission objectives / Burton McMurtry In-Q-Tel: a "nonprofit venture capital fund" / Gilman G. Louie An "Enterprise Fund" for NASA / Robert L. Norwood A venture capital perspective on research parks / Kathy Behrens -- Panel V: Ames as an entrepreneurial center: opportunities and challenges / Mark Myers Commercializing technology / Carolina Blake The experience of one start-up company / Elizabeth Downing, discussant Jim Turner -- Concluding remarks / Henry McDonald -- Science and technology parks at the millennium: concept, history, and metrics / Michael I. Luger -- The prospects for a technology park at Ames: a new economy model for industry-government partnership? / David B. Audretsch.