This report provides a narrative review of concepts and issues related to domestic technology transfer. Six investigative questions are posed which form a framework for analysis. First, what definitions of technology, innovation, and technology transfer have been advanced, and what other concepts are relevant for understanding the subject matter? Second, what factors have been identified as promoting or impeding technology transfer? Third, what important roles do individuals fulfill in technology transfer? Fourth, what is the Federal infrastructure for promoting technology transfer? Fifth, what is DOD's role in promoting domestic technology transfer? Sixth, what models have been advanced to portray the technology transfer process? The literature review indicates that innovation research provides a large body of knowledge related to factors influencing technology transfer, and factors can be grouped as pertaining to management involvement or the source - user relationship. In the Federal infrastructure for technology transfer, there are notable active systems, but funding appears to be a continuing problem. Although technology transfer from DOD to other sectors is predominantly passive, a trend toward active programs is observed.

Domestic technology transfer is the positive exchange of information among the members of the scientific and engineering communities within the US, both defense and non-defense related. Technology export can be intentional or non-intentional, and the results can produce strategic benefits/detriments to the nation's economic, political, and military goals. The dichotomy and the dynamics of the national policies and directives on these two aspects of technology transfer are discussed for the bench engineer. The roles of the bench engineer in the government laboratory, industrial R & D center, and the university research facility/laboratory, are delineated. Guidance is provided on how to separate classified information from unclassified military significant technology, and from other unclassified technology information. The active participant role for the bench engineer is advocated to accomplish national security objectives through encouraging domestic technology transfer and preparing accurate technology assessments for considerations in export control case processing. (Author).

This Regulation authorizes the DoD Domestic Technology Transfer Program and responds to the requirements of Public Law 96-480, the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, and Executive Order 12591. Its purpose is to ensure the full use of the nation's federal investment in research and development (R & D), stimulating improved use by state and local governments and the private sector.