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Influencing Government Decisions from the Ivory Tower

This narrative details the journey and strategies of Terry A. Ring in influencing government decisions, particularly in the realm of Chemical R&D funding, through volunteerism, board positions, and impactful studies. It delves into historical R&D funding patterns and outlines the importance of research for economic growth.

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Influencing Government Decisions from the Ivory Tower

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  1. Influencing Government Decisions from the Ivory Tower Terry A. Ring Ch.E. University of Utah

  2. How Did I get Started? • Volunteerism • High School Football • Neighborhood Association Board of Directors • Influence Zoning in Neighborhood • Ran International ACS meeting • CCR • Administration Committee • Government Relations Committee

  3. Curiosity in Government • Student Offices • High School • University • Boy’s State • Politics in UK • Politics of R&D Funding in England, Switzerland and Japan • CCR - Government Relations Committee

  4. “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

  5. CCR Government Relations Committee • Agency Visits • Budget Position Papers • Congressional Visits Day • Tell them the importance of Chemical R&D on Utah’s Economy • Give Awards to Congressmen • Science & Technology Town Meetings • Rep. Chris Cannon • Rep. Merril Cook

  6. R&D Funding History • 1996 - Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America • NIH 2x over 7 years • Much of new medical technology is built on traditional science and engineering! • Where is the equivalent funding increase for traditional science and engineering? • Government funding of R&D over the years has decreased significantly.

  7. Government Funding of R&D as % GDP

  8. Different Perspective • Science and Engineering Funding in Europe is Strong and Stable. • Each country has its strengths that are being maintained. • Japanese Funding for Science and Engineering is directed to areas where Japan will control the market. • USA thinks that it can do it all well and win them all.

  9. Richard Gross, CTO Dow ChemicalCCR President • Move from anecdotes to statistical backed knowledge • Commission a Study of the Situation with respect to Chemical R&D and its effectiveness. • Council for Chemical Research as vehicle.

  10. CCR Study-Phase I (2001) • History of Technology • Literature/Patent Analysis • Financial Analysis • Overview • David Sicilia • U. of MD • Francis Narin • CHI Research • Barouch Lev • NYU • Ashish Arora • Carnegie-Mellon U.

  11. CCR Study • History of Economic Impact • Follow Research to Patents • Importance of Research on Chemical Patents • Exploitation delay • Follow R&D $ spent to Corporate Profitability to Tax Revenue • Chemical Technology Enables other Industries. It is the most enabling of all industries!

  12. What to do with the Study? • Rollout (my job) • Make this Public at the Highest Levels!

  13. Jim Albertine, Albertine Enterprises M. Smith, A. Rickard, Association Vision P. & J. Garfinkel, Imagemaker Speeches CCR Staff CCR Action Network W. Wachob, Dow Gov’t. Relations Press Relations Report Editing/Writing Layout & Printing Coordination Coordination/Overview Study Manager Study Rollout Team

  14. Study Rollout • Combine studies into one coherent document • Publish Report • Press Release Documentation • Press Contacts • Meetings with • Business Week, Wall Street Journal • Chemical Week, C&E News • Government Release • Congressional Briefing • HB 153 & Dear Colleague Letter • Work with Lobbyist & Congressional Staff

  15. Study Findings • History of Impressive Impact • Balance of Trade • 50% of GDP growth • Can Follow R&D spending to Profit • Can Follow R to Patents and Products (exploitation delay) • Papers lead to patents in the same states • R&D is good for the economy (so we should do more of it)

  16. $1-10M Data from Scherer, F., Ann Econ. & Statistic, 1998 Barouch Lev, CCR Study-2001 ~$15-$100k Technology Transfer Exploitation Delay Data from 5 years, 1013 patent disclosures @ University of Utah, Innovation, vol.12 # Licenses >$1M=0.6% After Tax ROI=17% TIME  $ Scientific Publication(s) Proposal 0 1yr 2yr 3yr 4yr 5yr 6yr 7yr 8yr 9yr 10yr 11yr 12yr 13 yr 14yr 15 ~$300k Basic Research 1) National Lab Research 2) University Research ($29.5B in 2000) (87% Gov’t. Funded)

  17. Research Drives EachInnovation Cycles Profit Sustaining R&D Fundamental R&D Applied R&D Taxes Product Launch Patent License Invention

  18. Patent Life Fluorescent Lamp Data from Birchall, J.D., Chemistry and Industry 7/18/1983.

  19. Business Innovation Cycles – long view Business Cycles are Shortening!! International Competition is heating up!

  20. Chances of Innovation Success • Innovation Activity Success Probability • Proposal Grant 1 in 10 • Research  Publ’cn, 1 in 2 • Publ’cn  Patent 1 in 100 • Patent  Profit 1 in 25 • 1 in 500,000 • Within TTO • Invention  Patent App. 1 in 2 • Patent App.  Patent 1 in 2 • Patent  License ~1 in 1 • License  Royalty ~1 in 3 • License  Start-up

  21. Odds are like Napoleon’s Russian Campaign

  22. Work After CCR Study • CCR Study Phase II • Chemistry is Enabling (2006) • Government ROI • $1B spent $8B Tax 20 years later • Annual Congressional Visits • Pushing for more R&D • Seed corn for the business in the next generation • Work with Gov’t Relations Staffer in Washington DC • NSF Doubling Bill • Signed into Law in 2002

  23. NSF Doubling Bill • Initiated by calls by CCR Government Relations Staffer • Precipitated an Avalance of Support • ACS, APS, AAAS • Success in politics is all about timing. • Read the sentiment • Needs bi-partisan support • Many people need to look good • Acting only when sentiment is behind the initiative

  24. NSF Doubling Bill • Signed into Law in 2002 • No money in 2003,2004,2005,2006 • What is going wrong?? • Two Types of Bills • Authorization Bill • This is a good idea • Appropriations Bill • Fund it at $ level

  25. Making It Happen • “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” Report 2005 • State of the Union 2006 • American Competitiveness Initiative • Money in 2007 • NSF, DOE-OS, NIST

  26. “Measure for Measure: Chemical R&D Powers The US Innovation Engine” • 2006 Report • Chemical technology enables more industries than any other technology.

  27. “Measure for Measure: Chemical R&D Powers The US Innovation Engine”

  28. What have I learned about Government?

  29. Government is a study in dynamics! • Issues are constantly changing • The players are constantly changing • Political power is never real nor constant. • Political power is in the eye of the beholder.

  30. What Have I learned about Government? • You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. • Congressman Don Manzullo, Chair Small Business Committee • “Government is a mile wide and a micron thick.” • Kurt Markva, Chief of Staff for Don Manzullo • For success on any issue, keep the drum beating! • It does not matter how good the music is just keep the drum beating.

  31. If you want government to do the right thing you must be talking to your legislators. • Help with campaign to get (re)elected • Respond to questions from them about upcoming legislation • Go to Town Meetings and express opinions

  32. It doesn’t matter who you are, you can make a difference! • But you must be persistent!

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