Skip to main content

From Public Research to Private Jobs: Rep. Garamendi, Lab Leaders, Local Officials, and Business Community Announce Tech Transfer Bill

May 10, 2010
Notebook

LIVERMORE, CA – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA) today joined Livermore lab leaders, local officials, educators, and business community representatives in introducing his bill to authorize the establishment of a technology transfer center at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

The technology transfer center would help facilitate the transition of groundbreaking research from the national labs to the private sector and is a key enabler of the Livermore Valley Open Campus, which aims to create greater collaboration between the national labs, the private sector, and universities.

"Major scientific breakthroughs occur every year at the Livermore labs, and it’s important that we harness these advances to strengthen our economy, create jobs, and improve our way of life," said Congressman Garamendi. “My bill creates a technology transfer center at the Lawrence Livermore and Sandia labs, making it easier for private sector companies and universities to convert ideas into employment engines."

Rep. Garamendi’s bill would also authorize the future establishment of technology transfer centers at national laboratories across the country. As a member of both the House Armed Services and Science & Technology committees, Garamendi is well positioned to aggressively promote the Livermore Valley Open Campus and other technology transfer centers.

"In the City of the Dublin, we’re very excited about the Open Campus and what it means for the entire region in terms of economic development and opportunity," said Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti. "This project will benefit us in the same way the Dot Com boom benefited the entire Silicon Valley. We think with the ‘Innovation Corridor’, opportunities will be presented not just in Livermore but also in Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and the entire Tri-Valley."

"I'd like to thank Congressman Garamendi for his commitment to advance the NNSA's ability to engage more broadly with industry and academia," said George H. Miller, Director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "As the Laboratory strengthens its partnerships with industry, government and academia, Congressional support and leadership is essential to ensure that the DOE complex can engage scientists and engineers from around the world to find innovative new solutions to the great national security, energy, and environmental challenges of our time."

"Industrial partnerships are a critical element to Sandia’s continued commitment to technology transfer," said Bob Carling, Director of the Transportation Energy Center at Sandia National Laboratories. "These partnerships contribute directly to the development of our national security mission and the success of our industrial partners through accelerated commercialization of new technologies. The result is exceptional service in the national interest: technological innovation, scientific discovery, national security, and economic development."

"LVOC accelerates commercialization of technologies that come out of both our national labs – this is good for our region and the world," explained Dale Kaye of the Livermore Chamber of Commerce. "Innovation is the tent pole of our economy and some of the country's most brilliant innovators work at our labs. Collaboration between the public and private sectors and international partnerships creates unbelievable opportunities to develop technologies that essential for a healthy future, while also creating spin off businesses and bringing start up businesses and jobs for the Livermore area."

"The Tri-Valley has an incredible array of assets, and connecting these assets in initiatives like the LVOC, will unlock new ideas and opportunities and drive fresh innovation and economic growth," said Marty Beard, Chair of the Steering Committee for Innovation Tri-Valley and President of Sybase 365, a mobile technology company. "Innovation Tri-Valley, a regional collection of business, educational and civic leaders, is proud to be part of this announcement and excited about the future of the Tri-Valley."

Issues:Economy and JobsEducation