I've just recently returned from Texas, home of more wind turbines than any other state in the USA. An odd factoid to open with you might say, but not if you've been spending your time with folks like The US Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. I was fortunate to be asked to hold a So what? who cares? why you? workshop for the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Annual Meeting. The FLC, http://www.federallabs.org/ is a network of US federal labs with the mandate to strengthen technology transfer nation-wide. The FLC provides a forum for connecting these labs with the marketplace. As you can see from the list of attendees, there's something for everyone in terms of the breadth of technologies and industry sectors represented.
We had a room full of "idea shepherds" -- what's an idea shepherd, you ask ? Well it's my metaphor for those people who nurture and support inventors and entrepreneurs. We had a room full of "idea shepherds" from NASA, DOE, DoD, the Air Force Academy, Nava Air Warfare and more.
These labs are all about innovation and engaging in relationships with private sector companies. I was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit these people bring and their commitment to helping inventors bring ideas from lab to life. It's encouraging to see the scope of innovation underway and the commitment by the government labs to look to solve real, burning problems.
What we need to continue to do is create a forum for giving these great innovations visibility -- so hats off to the FLC for holding their annual meeting this year in conjunction with the World's Best Technologies Showcase. The WBT showcase featured some of the countries most promising and innovative technologies and put the focus of innovation exactly where it should be, on the market need and opportunity.
As I travel the country working with research labs, innovation centers and technology transfer professionals, I'm constantly inspired not just by the new and novel ideas, but moreso the flocks of Idea Shepherds herding and supporting inventors on their journey. The FLC is a great example of the 'herding and supporting' of ideas in government labs. These are the people who really help bring ideas from "lab to life".
Enjoy Your Journey,
Wendy
author/advisor/lady with the flipcharts
www.wendykennedy.com
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