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The Legacy of Problem-Solving: The Evolution of The FLC With Paul Zielinski
Welcome to The Transfer Files. This is your insider's look at how federal laboratories bring groundbreaking technologies to market. I'm your host, Andrea Nelson. In every episode, we'll bring you insights and expertise from the expansive world of tech transfer.
My guest today is Paul Zielinski, the Executive Director of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC), a nationwide network of federal labs that promotes the transfer of government technologies to the marketplace. With over 30 years in science, engineering, and technology transfer, he oversees FLC's operations and collaborates with stakeholders across federal agencies, industry, academia, and government to enhance technology commercialization.
Holding an MS in Civil/Environmental Engineering and an MBA in Entrepreneurship, his background includes directing the NIST's Technology Partnerships Office and chairing the FLC, with a focus on innovation and collaboration in the dissemination of federal research. As the FLC celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Paul and I discuss the consortium's formation, its evolution over the past five decades, and its future direction
In This Episode:
[01:37] It's been 50 years since the FLC was formed in 1974. In 1945, Vannevar Bush sent Science The Endless Frontier to President Truman.
[02:07] This letter lays out how the laboratory infrastructure that won the war should be converted over to win the peace. It envisioned technology transfer, advancing science, and bringing new technology to the marketplace.
[03:23] Technology transfer is about completing the mission after the research.
[04:01] The Department of Defense formed the Defense Laboratory Consortium. It was a group of people with a similar mission.
[05:01] In 1974, the Department of Defense invited all the other agencies in and the FLC was formed.
[06:08] The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act, the Bayh-Dole Act, and the Federal Technology Transfer Act changed and defined what we call tech transfer today. The first one was making tech transfer a mission for the laboratories.
[07:32] The Bayh-Dole Act formalizes the authorization for laboratories to manage their intellectual property. They can get patents and trademarks and license products. [08:32] FTA helps set up public private partnerships or cooperative research and development agreements.
[09:36] The FLC Awards program recognizes excellence in the field. It also helps motivate people. If you want excellence and an ecosystem for tech transfer to grow, it needs to be recognized.
[10:55] One of the most prestigious awards is the Harold Metcalf Award. He put his own career on the line to get the consortium finally put into law.
[11:28] This is the FLC's 50th golden anniversary year. The national meeting is going to be in Dallas, Texas this year. They're also going to focus on where they've been and where they are going.
[12:45] Paul is a problem solver. He began his career in the army with a biology degree. He then worked in nuclear waste cleanup. The technology didn't exist and they had to create it. This problem solving was how he became involved in tech transfer.
[15:00] This path also led him to solving problems at the EPA and at the National Institute of Standards and Technology which all led to tech transfer.
[16:13] Some of the FLC's major accomplishments of the past decade include the growth. In 2020, the FLC board was realigned. They put promote, educate, and facilitate in the bylaws.
[17:12] Goals for the FLC in the next 5 to 10 years include expanding what they've already been doing. They are increasing tools and services, and having companies do reverse pitches to know what they are looking for.
[18:19] A lot of challenges stemmed from COVID. The technology and ability for people to work from home has really changed the world. The downside is losing that personal touch.
[20:13] The virtual world does offer a lower bar to entry.
[20:39] The cross agency community is the strength and the greatest part of the FLC.
[21:55] The excitement of tech transfer is the sense of accomplishment and finding solutions to fill voids and get things done.
Resources:
Paul Zielinski LinkedIn
Federal Laboratory Consortium
Science The Endless Frontier
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act
Bayh-Dole Act
Federal Technology Transfer Act
The FLC Harold Metcalf Service Award
View all episodes
By Federal Laboratory ConsortiumWelcome to The Transfer Files. This is your insider's look at how federal laboratories bring groundbreaking technologies to market. I'm your host, Andrea Nelson. In every episode, we'll bring you insights and expertise from the expansive world of tech transfer.
My guest today is Paul Zielinski, the Executive Director of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC), a nationwide network of federal labs that promotes the transfer of government technologies to the marketplace. With over 30 years in science, engineering, and technology transfer, he oversees FLC's operations and collaborates with stakeholders across federal agencies, industry, academia, and government to enhance technology commercialization.
Holding an MS in Civil/Environmental Engineering and an MBA in Entrepreneurship, his background includes directing the NIST's Technology Partnerships Office and chairing the FLC, with a focus on innovation and collaboration in the dissemination of federal research. As the FLC celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Paul and I discuss the consortium's formation, its evolution over the past five decades, and its future direction
In This Episode:
[01:37] It's been 50 years since the FLC was formed in 1974. In 1945, Vannevar Bush sent Science The Endless Frontier to President Truman.
[02:07] This letter lays out how the laboratory infrastructure that won the war should be converted over to win the peace. It envisioned technology transfer, advancing science, and bringing new technology to the marketplace.
[03:23] Technology transfer is about completing the mission after the research.
[04:01] The Department of Defense formed the Defense Laboratory Consortium. It was a group of people with a similar mission.
[05:01] In 1974, the Department of Defense invited all the other agencies in and the FLC was formed.
[06:08] The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act, the Bayh-Dole Act, and the Federal Technology Transfer Act changed and defined what we call tech transfer today. The first one was making tech transfer a mission for the laboratories.
[07:32] The Bayh-Dole Act formalizes the authorization for laboratories to manage their intellectual property. They can get patents and trademarks and license products. [08:32] FTA helps set up public private partnerships or cooperative research and development agreements.
[09:36] The FLC Awards program recognizes excellence in the field. It also helps motivate people. If you want excellence and an ecosystem for tech transfer to grow, it needs to be recognized.
[10:55] One of the most prestigious awards is the Harold Metcalf Award. He put his own career on the line to get the consortium finally put into law.
[11:28] This is the FLC's 50th golden anniversary year. The national meeting is going to be in Dallas, Texas this year. They're also going to focus on where they've been and where they are going.
[12:45] Paul is a problem solver. He began his career in the army with a biology degree. He then worked in nuclear waste cleanup. The technology didn't exist and they had to create it. This problem solving was how he became involved in tech transfer.
[15:00] This path also led him to solving problems at the EPA and at the National Institute of Standards and Technology which all led to tech transfer.
[16:13] Some of the FLC's major accomplishments of the past decade include the growth. In 2020, the FLC board was realigned. They put promote, educate, and facilitate in the bylaws.
[17:12] Goals for the FLC in the next 5 to 10 years include expanding what they've already been doing. They are increasing tools and services, and having companies do reverse pitches to know what they are looking for.
[18:19] A lot of challenges stemmed from COVID. The technology and ability for people to work from home has really changed the world. The downside is losing that personal touch.
[20:13] The virtual world does offer a lower bar to entry.
[20:39] The cross agency community is the strength and the greatest part of the FLC.
[21:55] The excitement of tech transfer is the sense of accomplishment and finding solutions to fill voids and get things done.
Resources:
Paul Zielinski LinkedIn
Federal Laboratory Consortium
Science The Endless Frontier
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act
Bayh-Dole Act
Federal Technology Transfer Act
The FLC Harold Metcalf Service Award