How government can help
Article Abstract:
The US government appears to be supporting the defense industry's shift towards civilian production in light of new legislation mandating $1 billion as conversion assistance funds. In truth, however, it still has to formulate a concrete economic conversion policy to help military-dependent communities and displaced workers plan and prepare for a transition to commercial production. Although it has created the Office of Technology Transition at the Defense Dept and broadened the scope of its Office of Economic Adjustment, more strategies have to be implemented to guarantee a smooth conversion while leaving the defense production capability intact. For example, retraining may help but the question remains whether employment opportunities are present. This is significant because the trend is not likely to reverse, since it was brought about by the end of the Cold War.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1992
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Federal laboratories meet the marketplace
Article Abstract:
US Federal research laboratories employ one-sixth of US engineers and scientists, and are a large part of the overall scientific and technological enterprise. Regulations that constrain interaction between federal laboratories and private industry are being lifted by new bills passed in Congress since 1986 and the move toward cooperation is progressing at a rate faster than between private industry and universities in the early 1980s. The challenge has become to eliminate inefficient and redundant labs and to encourage industry to use research. About one-sixth of total Government spending on labs goes to multiprogram Department of Energy labs. Non-US companies are adept at finding valuable research projects at federal facilities. In 1988 3,597 non-US researchers worked at 50 Federal labs, according to a report by the US General Accounting Office.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1990
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Toward smaller, more deployable forces, as lethal as can be
Article Abstract:
Cutbacks in defense spending mean US defense and aerospace companies have to diversify and do business in a smaller market with changing technical requirements. Advanced simulation will be critical to developers with less money to spend on prototypes. The Pentagon has outlined 12 goals in a 20-year plan that is meant to aid deterrence and maintain military superiority. The Critical Technologies Plan of Mar 1990 includes defense against ballistic missiles of all ranges; affordable space transport; antisubmarine warfare advantage; worldwide all-weather forces; global command, control, communications and intelligence capabilities; air defense systems that over-watch threat systems; weapons that autonomously acquire, classify, track and destroy a broad spectrum of targets; and enhancement of producibility and availability of future weaponry.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1990
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