A number of new technologies have emerged from the 38 completed projects, and all of the projects have added something to the U.S. scientific and technical knowledge base. Even those projects that were not fully successful in achieving all of their research goals, or those that have not been followed by strong progress in commercialization, have achieved knowledge gains--of course, some more than others. Indeed, even the projects that were carried out by the several companies that have since ceased operations, or that have stopped work in the technology area, resulted in knowledge gains - albeit the direct market route of diffusion of the knowledge gains in those cases may be lost or postponed.

Advances were made in each of the seven technologies areas. In the field of electronics, advances were made, for example, in new processes and procedures for altering electrical properties of materials through ion implantation, for fabricating, testing and aligning extremely precise aspherical, multilayer-coated mirrors, for interconnecting thin-film integrated circuits, for constructing new devices utilizing the giant magnetoresistance effect, and for growing large silicon carbide single crystals.

In the field of information technology, examples of knowledge gains are embodied in new mathematical algorithms useful for restoration of digitized video images and for animated visualization, and in component-based software tools for building parallel processor applications.

In the field of biotechnology, knowledge gains include how to grow human stem cells outside the human body in large quantities at reasonable cost, how to deactivate viral contaminants in blood and other fluids, how to genetically engineer plant extracts, as well as techniques for rebuilding lost or damaged human tissues with engineered tissue.

In the fields of energy supply and environmental protection, knowledge gains are reflected in the new fabrication processes that were developed for superconducting materials; in the improved ability to control microstructure of aerogels, and in new methods of compatibilizing polymers for recycling.

Knowledge gains important to discrete manufacturing include new ways to measure and control dimensional variation in parts assembly, and intelligent thermal-error correction techniques for machine control. In the field of materials technology, knowledge gains led to new processes for safer, less costly near-net-shape gelcasting and new ways of producing optoelectronic polymers with desirable characteristics. Finally, in the field of chemicals and chemical processing, advances were made in multiphoton detection methods.

These and other technologies developed in the 38 projects are listed in Tables A1-A7 of Appendix A, column B, together with a listing in column C of commercial products or processes that are based on the technologies. This set of tables is provided for convenient, quick reference by the reader.

While the entries are arranged according to the seven technology areas which are used in Chapters 2-8, it should be noted that most of these projects and the knowledge developed in them do not lend themselves to easy classification. Most entail a mixture of technologies and interdisciplinary know-how; many could easily be put into one or more of the other categories shown. For example, the thermal-error correction technology is listed under "discrete manufacturing," but it could also fit well in the "information technology" category. As another example, the process technology for superconducting materials is listed under "energy and environment," but could fit well under "materials."

Another point to notice is the great diversity of technologies resulting from these projects. Knowledge gains range from mathematical algorithms underlying new software tools, to the science of growing human tissue, to new techniques for fabricating high-temperature superconducting devices. The diversity reflects the fact that all but one ⁽⁹⁾ of the projects were funded in the ATP's General Competitions, which cast a wide net for good ideas regardless of technology area.

Outside Recognition for Technology Advances

Although it is beyond the scope of this report to rate the degree of significance of the scientific and technical knowledge gained from the projects, various forms of recognition by other organizations indicate that outside parties see considerable value in the technical discoveries of some of the projects. Table 3 provides information about such outside recognition. ⁽¹⁰⁾

Table 3. Outside Recognition of Technical Achievements in the First 38 Completed ATP-Funded Projects

Go to other sections of Chapter 1: Overview of Completed Projects
  Characterstics of the Projects
  Timeline of Expected ATP Project Activities and Impacts
  Gains in Technical Knowledge
  Dissemination of New Knowledge
  Commercialization of the New Technology
  Broad-Based Economic Benefits

Date created: March 1999
Last updated: April 12, 2005