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Performance
of 50 Completed ATP Projects
Status
Report - Number 2
NIST SP 950-2
Chapter
1 - Overview
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Part
2 - Gains in Technical Knowledge
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| A
major goal of ATP is to build the nation’s scientific and technical
knowledge base. Each of the 50 completed ATP projects targeted a number
of specific technical goals designed to achieve a new or better way
of doing things. The knowledge created by each project is the source
of its future economic benefit, both for the innovator and for others
who acquire the knowledge. It is a good starting place for assessing
completed projects.
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A Host of New Technologies
and Knowledge Gains
Knowledge gains by the 50 projects range from mathematical algorithms
underlying new software tools, to the science of growing human tissue,
to new techniques for fabricating high-temperature superconducting devices,
to new chemical formulations. Advances were made in each of the five technology
areas.
The technologies developed
in the 50 projects are listed in Tables A1-A5 of Appendix
A, column B. The set of tables provides the reader with a convenient,
quick reference to the entire range of technologies.
The entries are arranged
according to the five technology areas shown in Figure
1.1 and used to divide Chapters 2 through 6. It should be noted, however,
that most of these projects and the knowledge developed in them are not
easy to classify. Most projects entail a mixture of technologies and interdisciplinary
know-how.
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. Moreover, some of the projects carried
out by companies that have since ceased operations or stopped work in
the technology area yielded knowledge, as indicated by the presence of
publications and patents. In these cases the direct market routes of diffusion
of knowledge gains by the innovators are likely lost, but the indirect
routes remain.
Of What Significance
are the Technical Advances?
Apart from looking downstream at long-term outcomes, measuring the significance
of technical advances is challenging. A short-run approach taken here
is to look at awards presented by other organizations in recognition of
technical achievements.
A total of 15 awards
for technical accomplishments were made to participants for achievements
related to the ATP-funded projects. Participants in 9 of the 50 projects
received awards for their technical achievements. Participants in 4 of
the projects received multiple awards. Table 3 lists the awards granted
recognizing technical accomplishments.
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Table
3 - Outside Recognition of Technical Achievements of the
First 50 Completed Projects
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|
Project
Awardee
|
Year
|
Awarding
Organization
|
Award
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| American Superconductor |
1996 |
R&D
magazine |
One of the 100
most important innovations of the year. |
| American Superconductor |
1996 |
Industry Week
magazine |
Technology of
the Year award. |
| Communication
Intelligence #1 |
1997 |
Arthritis Foundation |
“Ease-of-Use
Seal of Commendation” for the development of natural handwriting
technology, for use by disabled people who have trouble with keyboard
entry. |
| DuPont |
1993 |
Microwave &
RF magazine |
One of the Top
Products of 1993, for high-temperature superconductivity component
technology. |
| Engineering Animation |
1994 |
Computerworld
magazine |
Smithsonian Award,
for the use of information technology in the field of medicine. |
| Engineering Animation |
1995 |
Association of
Medical Illustrators |
Association of
Medical Illustrators Award of Excellence in Animation. |
| Engineering Animation |
1995 |
International
ANNIE Awards |
Finalist, received
together with Walk Disney, for best animations in the film industry.
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| Engineering Animation |
1996 |
Industry Week
magazine |
One of the 25
Technologies of the Year, for interactive 3D visualization and dynamics
software used for product development. |
| HelpMate Robotics |
1996 |
Discover
magazine |
One of 36 finalists
for Technology of the Year, for the HelpMate robot used in hospitals. |
| HelpMate Robotics |
1997 |
Science Technology
Foundation |
Japan Prize,
to CEO Joseph of Japan Engelberger, for “systems engineering
for an artifactual environment.” |
| Illinois Superconductor |
1996 |
Microwave
& RF magazine |
One of the Top
Products of 1996, for cellular phone site filters and superconducting
ceramics. |
| Illinois Superconductor |
1997 |
American Ceramic
Society |
Corporate Technical
Achievement Award. |
| Integra LifeSciences
(10) |
1999 |
New Jersey Research
and Development Council |
Thomas Alvin
Edison Award. |
| Molecular Simulations |
1996 |
Computerworld
magazine |
Finalist for
Smithsonian Award, the 1996 Innovator Medal. |
| NCMS |
1994 |
Institute for
Interconnecting & Packaging Electronic Circuits |
Best Paper of
Conference Awards. |
10.
The award went to Dr. Kohn of Rutgers University for his collaborative
work with Integra on the project.
Return to Table
of Contents or go to next section.
Date created: April
2002
Last updated:
April 12, 2005
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