The shift from "push" to "pull" in R & D

Since 1985 there has been a substantial shift in thinking at the Federal level and at the grass roots level. Where it used to be assumed that laboratories would "invent" products and then "offer" them to the market (a push strategy), the present vie w is that the laboratories should "design" products that are responsive to needs in the field and "supply" them to users (a pull strategy). Clearly, market demand is a consideration in the pull strategy.

The international scene

Other countries are approaching research and development differently and they are being successful at it. Their strategy accelerates their ability to respond to opportunities and drastically shortens the amount of time required to produce prototypes and products. Europe and Asia show the benefits in their healthy economies.

The key rests in substantially increased government-industry cooperation. Major shifts have been made by our government in recent years in an effort to reap similar benefits. No longer is it considered wrong to cooperate with industry quite the rever se is true. This simple fact should enlarge the thinking of investigators about when and how they involve manufacturers.

Investigator

Transfer Officer

Center Director