An Examination of Agreement Type, Firm Size and Other Factors Affecting the Commercialization of Air Force Technology.
Abstract
The objective of this thesis is to determine if a significant difference in the innovative strength of businesses exists when factors such as firm size, agreement type and other firm attributes are considered. Sample data for this study was collected by a telephone survey from firms selected from the Air Force population of CRDAs and SBIRs for Fiscal Years 1991-1993. The design of this survey, based on one used by Dr. Robert Berger to study SBIR outcomes, determines the degree of commercialization of the firm's product resulting from its agreement with the Air Force. This determination is then employed as a measure of the innovative ability of the firm. Additionally, the survey collects several variables describing the state of the firm at the inception of the SBIR or CRDA, such as firm size, product orientation, and prior business experience in order to assess their correlation with the commercialization outcome. This researcher found that the degree of commercialization differed significantly between the two contract mechanisms. Moreover, firm size possessed a negative relationship with the degree of commercialization for CRDAs. Additionally, the more mature the technology transferred under both SBIRs or CRDAs, the greater the degree of commercialization. (MM)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA300510
Entities
People
- Robert S. Widmann
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology