IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PP.OFESSÎONAL COMMUNICATION, VOL. PC-Î9, NO. Î , MARuH 1976

Transferring Technology Penntap Style ROBERT h. MCCORMICK A N D D O N N A S. Q U E E N E Y

Abstract: PENNTAP--the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program -is « statewide scientific and technical information dissemination net­work. In ten years of developing and refining its technology transfer system, PENNTAP has learned that individualized information delivery is essential to successful technology transfer. PENNTAP provides this individualized service, assisting clients in interpretation and application of the information as well as delivering it to them.

With the quantity of scientific and technical information doubling every eight years, it is impossible for any one person to keep up with all new information that might have application to an area of concern. PENNTAP enables organizations to obtain information that is both cur­rent and relevant to their needs by delivering existing knowledge to those who can use it for the expressed purpose of producing results.

Good ideas never get around as fast as we'd like them to. PENNTAP—the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program-is a statewide technology transfer system tor the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is doing something about it. We're speed­ing up the process because we're opposed to costly and un­necessary duplication o f effort.

With the quantity o f scientific and technical knowledge doubling every eight years, it is virtually impossible for any one person to keep up with all new information that may have application to an area o f concern. PENNTAP exists t o serve as a catalyst, bringing current information to those who can use it. PENNTAP does not create new knowledge, but rather channels available information into areas where it can be bene­ficially applied. PENNTAP is a technical information net­work, a statewide, results-oriented action program thai trans­fers information t o enable Pennsylvanians to achieve economic and social benefits.

In ten years of developing and refining its technology trans fer system, PENNTAP has learned that the mere existence of knowledge does not assure its use; even the delivery of that knowledge does not guarantee its successful application. Often the potential user needs interpretation of technical informa­tion in order ίο utilize it effectively. This type of technology transfer is best accomplished on a person-to-person basis, and PENNTAP provides just this kind of individualized service to meet scientific and technical needs of any segment of the pri­vate or public sectors.

PENNTAP* is administered as a continuing education service of The Pennsylvania State University, and is partially funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce. Other institu-

Manuscript received February 9,1976. Mr. McCormick, Professor of Chemical Engineering at The Pennsyl­

vania State University,is a PENNTAP Technical Specialist. Dr. Queeney is PENNTAP editorial assistant.

*501 J. Orvis Keller Bldg., University Park, PA 16802.

tions of higher learning, non-profit laboratories, and libraries are also involved in PENNTAP's operation. Together we pro­vide quick responses to inquiries from government agencies, municipalities, industries, health care agencies, schools and other organizations. These services are cost-free to PENN­TAP's users.

HOW DOES PENNTAP OPERATE?

PENNTAP's staff consists of a director and eight full-time technical specialists who provide the services that enable Penn-syivanians to solve existing problems and prevent future diffi­culties. The heart of the PENNTAP operation, this staff of technical specialists includes a certified petroleum geologist, a technical librarian, a professor of chemical engineering, an electrical engineer, an aquatic ecologist, a metallurgist, and a fire technologist. Each specialist works closely with the de­partments within his college and cooperates in interdiscipli­nary activities to assure that the information transferred is cur­rent, valid, and of the most benefit to the user. PENNTAP is also a pipeline to other experts in many fields throughout the state and nation.

The technical specialists provide face-to-face contact be­tween the sources of technical information and the users of such information. Printed materials, even expertly prepared, cannot stimulate interpersonal relations, define a problem, an­swer related questions, involve consulting authorities, provide follow through, or relate to other agencies. The technical spe­cialist can and does.

The specialists travel extensively throughout the state to as­sist in the investigation and identification of problem areas, to obtain possible solution information and to translate, inter­pret, and disseminate scientific and technical information for practical applicat ion

The technical specialists provide services through two basic methods of operation. When responding to an inquiry from a client, a specialist utilizes the reactive mode of opeiaiiun iu provide the information that is requested.

In other cases, PENNTAP becomes aware of a new techno­logical development that has potential application in Pennsyl­vania. The specialist then takes this new technology to poten­tial users through PENNTAP's active mode of operation.

The Reactive Mode

PENNTAP's reactive mode involves the entire network of twenty-four Penn State Continuing Education offices located

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I REE TRANSACTIONS ON PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION, MARCH 1976

throughout the state that serve as our local "receiving sta­tions/9 A potential client may call or write to any of these offices to request PENNTAP's assistance. The caller need not discuss technical matters at this time; he simply leaves his name and telephone number so that a technical specialist can return the call.

The inquiry is forwarded at once, by telephone, to the main PENNTAP office at University Park. Promptness is important, for in many cases the client's need for information is immedi­ate. A technical specialist returns the call, usually the same day that the initial inquiry is made.

After learning the nature of the problem, the calling special­ist determines the type of assistance that is needed, and he sets about providing it. He may refer the inquiry to another spe­cialist whose area of expertise will enable him to give the caller the help he needs.

PENNTAP's response may be in the form of printed mate­rial, it may involve an on-the-spot visit by one of the technical specialists, or the caller may be referred to a consultant, manu­facturer, or government agency. Each case is dealt with indi­vidually so that we can provide the best possible assistance for

~i: Λ.

Above all, PENNTAP strives to provide service. ïf a caller's problem is outside the scope of PENNTAP, referral is made to an organization that can help.

In all cases, the client is asked to evaluate PENNTAP's serv­ices after he has had sufficient time to receive information and apply it. These evaluations enable us to judge our success in helping the client solve his problem, and they also provide a measure of the economic savings that we are able to bring about. The evaluations may indicate that a particular problem still needs more work, or they may provide information that helps us to see where our program needs strengthening.

The Active Mode

Frequently PENNTAP personnel became aware of new sci­entific or technical developments that could be used to advan­tage by Pennsylvanians. Often such information comes from large government organizations. By establishing a working re­lationship with many Federal research and development orga­nizations, PENNTAP has been able to actively seek out stock­piles of scientific data which might otherwise lie dormant and unavailable to potential users. PENNTAP maintains a direct liaison with many Federal laboratories in order to search for and identify developments which are ready to be applied.

Upon learning of a useful technology, PENNTAP contacts the institutions that might benefit from its use. The technol­ogy and its relevance to these institutions is explained, and PENNTAP plans a visit for interested persons to the Federal laboratory or other facility involved. At this time the actual operation can be observed and questions can be asked of those who are using the program.

Following this on-site visit, operating manuals and other pertinent literature are obtained by PENNTAP for perusal by the potential users of the technology. Personnel who have de­veloped and worked with the technology are brought to talk to the potential users and additional on=site trips are planned if necessary, all in an attempt to maximize the amount of person-

to-person exchange between the potential users and those who are experienced with the technology. Potential users are given every opportunity to familiarize themselves with the tech­nology,

One or more institutions are selected for a pilot study, in­volving trial use of the new technology. PENNTAP assists the pilot institutions in adapting the technology to the*r needs; this interpretation and explanation are essential if îe informa­tion is to be beneficially applied.

Other interested institutions are informed of the results of the pilot study when it is completed. PENNTAP then provides the information necessary to enable them to adapt the tech­nology to their operations if they so desire.

As with the reactive mode of operation, the final stage in the active mode is an evaluation of PENNTAP's services by the clients. From these evaluations we learn how well our system is working and where it needs improvement. The evaluations also provide us with a gauge of how much we are accomplish­ing.

Seminars, Conferences and Workshops

In addition to the activities already described, each year PENNTAP initiates conferences, seminars, short courses and workshops to meet areas of need that might otherwise be over­looked. These programs are held in conjunction with many cooperating institutions in order to disseminate technical in­formation of potential value to the Commonwealth.

The primary purposes of the workshop are to alert poten­tial clients to the seriousness of existing problems, to offer ways of complying with regulations, to expand the partici­pants' personal knowledge, and to better acquaint users with the vast number of resources-private, state and Federal-that can be brought to bear on particular needs.

ORGANIZATION OF PENNTAP

Guidance for PENNTAP is provided by an advisory council, composed of professionals who formulate policy and establish PENNTAP's yearly priorities. They determine which areas of scientific and technical information merit consideration and evaluate our past efforts.

Each member of the advisory council is appointed for a three-year term. Council members-who volunteer their time to PENNTAP-represent a variety of scientific, technical and professional backgrounds and are completely competent in their respective fields. Such credentials permit thern to view the broad range of Pennsylvania's needs.

PENNTAP is one unit of a statewide system. Under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Scientific and Tech­nological Development, the system is designed to coordinate the development and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge in Pennsylvania on a long-range basis. The Gover­nor's Science Advisory Committee (GSAC) formulates poli­cies, the Pennsylvania Science and Engineering Foundation (PSEF) provides initial funding for scientific research projects of benefit to Pennsylvania, and PENNTAP is the link between these and all other sources and users of scientific and technical information throughout the state. While new research areas

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MCCORMICK A N D Q U E E N E Y : T R A N S F E R R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y P E N N T A P S T Y L E 3

are recognized by GSAC and funded by PSEF, the results are transferred to potential users by PENNTAP.

THE SYSTEM IS WORKING

Last year 1,642 people called us for assistance, and we helped them all. Almost two-thirds of these callers were busi­nesses and private entrepreneurs. Other users included fire de­partments, municipalities, hospitals, government agencies, and school districts.

We have had to work to develop an awareness of our serv­ices. The forty-six field personnel in the Continuing Educa­tion office* serve as local "ambassadors" to inform people within their service areas of PENNTAP's purpose and methods of operation. In addition, the people of Pennsylvania learn about PENNTAP through meetings and seminars, publicity, and word-of-mouth. Each year, as more people become aware of PENNTAP, we receive more inquiries.

In some cases the results we produce are highly visible. When information provided by PENNTAP enabled a small company to realize an additional $600,000 sales profit- or saved the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation $89,000 on the cost of construction of a truck runoff, we could meas­ure what we had done. Economically speaking, PENNTAP is credited with contributing to the realization of several hun­dred thousand dollars in economic benefits to the people of Pennsylvania each year.

The financial savings are only part of the picture, though. The value of cleaner water, a fire prevented, a life saved, or a records system restored is beyond measure-yet PENNTAP has contributed heavily in those areas, too.

SUMMARY

Good technology transfer can provide great economic and social benefits, eliminating the waste of time and money on re­dundant efforts, it is essential to the efficient use of knowl­edge; without it, much good information will be wasted simply because the person who needs it won* know of its existence or won't be able to apply it to his situation.

Good technology transfer doesn't just happen, however. Person-to-person contact is required to bring pertinent infor­

mation in usable form to those who need it. The delivery of information isn't enough; often it must hî interpreted and adapted for the user's specific needs.

PENNTAP has pioneered a program for delivering technol­ogy to potential users in clear, understandable terms. We have learned that there are systematic and specific measures that can be taken to increase the probability that research results will be used and to shorten the time necessary to apply tech­nological innovations.

Professor Robert H. McCormick, Technical Specialist for PENNTAP, received his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, where he has been a staff member of the Petroleum Refining Laboratory and a faculty member of the Chemi­cal Engineering Department since 1935. The co-author of one Cana­dian and three U.S. patents, he has directed research and development and published articles on numerous industrial products, processes, and equipment design projects. His pro­fessional memberships include the

American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Society of Engineering Education, Phi Lambda Upsilon, Sigma Xi, and American institute ot Chemists.

Dr. Donna S. Queeney, PENN­TAP editorial assistant, received her bachelor's degree in liberal arts and her master's and doctoral degrees in human development, ail from The Pennsylvania State University. She has conducted research studies and authored a number of publications en housing, water resource problems, and the implementation of pro­grammed instruction, and has served as m instructor for both The Penr sylvania State University and the State College, Pennsylvania Area School District.