The Impact of Academic Research on Industrial Performance (2003) / Chapter Skim
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4. Report of the Panel on the Aerospace Industry
4. Report of the Panel on the Aerospace Industry
Pages 115-144
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From page 115... ...
The aerospace industry was selected for study as an example of an industry, now relatively mature, that developed with extensive funding by government in research and technology and that is dependent on advanced technologies for its present and future economic competitiveness. Therefore, the industry might provide a baseline for comparison with other less mature industry sectors.
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From page 116... ...
Priorities in R&D have changed accordingly. Historic patterns of industry-university interaction, which were based on significant government funding of R&D, have been broken; new models will certainly emerge that encompass not only R&D funding, practice, and expectations, but also engineering education.
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From page 117... ...
The last two are relatively immature sectors that are undergoing rapid development and are, therefore, more dependent on new technologies. Gas-Turbine Propulsion Systems The gas-turbine industry developed in the 1950s and 1960s with the rapid conversion of both military and commercial aircraft from reciprocating to jet propulsion engines.
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From page 118... ...
Technologies to improve performance and manufacturing are both critical to success, which creates a fertile field for academic research. A significant contribution of academic research to the industry has been the development of design techniques based in computational fluid dynamics.
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From page 119... ...
and four foreign suppliers of either launch vehicles or launch services. All but the two or three most recently developed launch vehicles have been derived from ballistic missile technology, which was heavily funded by the federal government from the 1950s through the 1970s.
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From page 120... ...
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been operational for about two decades.
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From page 121... ...
Several firms that emerged directly from academic research continue to rely on research by academics. Space-Based Information Systems Space-based information systems include all systems that use orbital assets to acquire or transmit information, such as observational satellites for military surveillance, weather satellites, navigation and positioning satellites, and commercial communications satellites.
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From page 122... ...
For instance, in 1994 NASA's Office of Aeronautics appointed a University Strategy Task Force to review the agency's support of academic research and recommend policy and other changes to ensure the long-term health of aerospace research in academia.
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From page 123... ...
But even in the area of computational fluid dynamics, much of the innovation originated in government laboratories and industry, with academic research playing a supporting role. FINDINGS Responses to questionnaires and discussions at a workshop convened as part of this study revealed consistent concerns about the impact of academia on the aerospace industry and the future of the university-industry relationship (see Addendum)
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From page 124... ...
Value Placed on Academic Research and Education Industry's Viewpoint The panel's research strongly suggests that mature sectors of the industry value academia principally for its graduates at all levels. Therefore, industry places more value on researchers than on research itself.
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From page 125... ...
At this stage, aerospace companies are especially keen on the development of better methodologies and tools, such as tools in computational fluid dynamics and the research results of the Lean Aerospace Initiative. Small companies maintain a very different relationship with universities for a number of reasons.
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From page 126... ...
Third, small firms typically have little or no research staff; contracts with universities, faculty consultants, student cooperatives, and other resources provide a costeffective mechanism for securing technical expertise. Fourth, maintaining close relations with universities gives small businesses access to information and cutting-edge technology that they often have little time to obtain on their own.
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From page 127... ...
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY 127 Finally, university research provides intellectual mixing that leads to constant discussions and debates, both formal and informal, about new ideas. Universities serve as brain trusts that provide a long-term perspective on ideas and technology development that is difficult to find elsewhere and is exceedingly valuable to small firms.
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From page 128... ...
Academic Viewpoint The principal measure of success for a research university is the quality of its faculty and student body. Faculty success is measured principally by standing in
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From page 129... ...
Thus, universities compete vigorously for the research elite who are the recognized intellectual leaders in their fields and are willing to expend significant discretionary resources to attract them for laboratories, graduate student support, and faculty control of research funds. Thus, major research universities do not depend entirely on external funding to support the research programs that determine their standing in the academic hierarchy.
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From page 130... ...
Leaders at Boeing argue that the only way to overcome long-standing cultural differences between
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From page 131... ...
For example, academic involvement in problem definition can help focus research on meeting the needs of both. Industry must also recognize that universities cannot work to an industry schedule and should choose research projects accordingly.
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From page 132... ...
. Export laws and other restrictions, however, limit the involvement of foreign students in some types of aerospace research.
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From page 133... ...
, a program established in 1990 to focus and coordinate RollsRoyce university research in the UK. The firm targeted university departments with proven track records and expertise in technical areas of strategic importance to Rolls-Royce.
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From page 134... ...
U.S. Research Partnership One of the presentations at the workshop described the efforts of GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE)
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From page 135... ...
, better methodologies and tools are the most valued research products. These include tools in computational fluid dynamics and the results of the Lean Aerospace Initiative.
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From page 136... ...
2Because the five subsectors studied by the committee do not align with the industry subsector definitions used to report sales and shipments data, these numbers are rough estimates that draw upon data from the following sources: AIA, 2001; McGraw-Hill/DOC, 2000; and CRS, 2003. 3In 1986, commercial launches accounted for only 13 percent of commercial and government launches (excluding space shuttle launches)
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From page 137... ...
1997. Report of the University Strategy Task Force.
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From page 138... ...
Space-based information systems Launch vehicles Transport aircraft Unmanned aerial vehicles ~ Gas turbine propulsion systems 2. Please describe any cases you are aware of in which the contributions and impact of academic research to seaports)
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From page 139... ...
F Pontification, Professionalism, Foundations This refers to the function offaculty in documenting and presenting information critical to aerospace; in conveying relevant information to others in the profession, investors, and legislators; and to service to the profession, for instance, in organizing and sustaining professional societies, industry associations, and other trade groups.
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From page 140... ...
it supports, which enables the other contributions outlined above in question #4? Please use additional pages, as necessary.
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From page 141... ...
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY Workshop Agenda WORKSHOP ON ENHANCING ACADEMIC RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY December 4, 1998 National Academies Building 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C.
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From page 142... ...
4. Is it possible to maintain the desired educational role of academia, in the absence of traditional academic research programs?
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From page 143... ...
James McMichael Program Manager DARPA/TTO Art Roch Director, Advanced Technology Commercial Aircraft Division Northrop Grumman Corporation
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From page 144... ...
Varma Aerospace Consultant Bethesda, Maryland David C Wisler Manager, University Programs and Aero Technology Labs GE Aircraft Engines Consultant to the Aerospace Industry Panel Thomas C
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