A New Opportunity for National Labs In some cases, national labs have been successful in translating R&D achievements to the commercial sector then the private sector was able to further develop, manufacture and market those products. However, the vast majority of new IP developed by the National Labs has been historically licensed to large conglomerates or traditional defense players, as opposed to more innovative start-up ventures.
What is the “Innovation value chain” at a National Lab? The following provides a framework of basic science, research, and development and how it can translate into a mature technology, with the potential for commercialization.
Making R&D more accessible to start-ups could add value to the economy and society. Without giving the opportunity to entrepreneurs to launch new deep tech ventures there is a risk that some of the most advanced innovation remains locked in national labs. Innovation ecosystems are also built and evolve around these new discoveries and advanced R&D capabilities. Kendall Square in Cambridge, MA, is an example of convergence between university research (Harvard & MIT), government funded R&D, industry collaboration and entrepreneurial ambitions. 21
Deep Tech Entrepreneurship: From Lab to Impact
