The Relation of University Research Infrastructure to Revolutionary Technology

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This research will examine two technologies presently entering the commercialization stage to determine the impact that academic research infrastructures, particularly those supported by the National Science Foundation, have had on their emergence. The study will trace these technologies over the stages of their evolution, from initial awareness of their potential through development, to their present early commercialization. Studied will be two technologies that have faced a range of issues over their course. Fiber optic cables and high temperature superconductors are prime candidates for study. The aim will be to track the linkages (or lack of linkages) of university research infrastructure to technological innovation. The study will analyze how factors internal and external to the university influenced the role university research infrastructure played in the emergence of these technologies. The study seeks to provide anecdotal data on the technologies studied that may help in understanding the role that NSF/ENG can play in technological innovation in emerging engineering technologies.