During the 12th Prof. EG Ramachandran Distinguished Lecture on 12 April 2024 at IITM, the invited speaker, Dr. Samir highlighted a common issue in India: the lack of realization for many research endeavors. Drawing from my experience as a contractor at the Reseach Center in Langley, USA, I explained the American Model as I understood, for the establishment of an intermediary company tasked with bridging the gap between research and commercialization.

For instance, consider the scenario where MA956 alloy is enhanced with yttrium to bolster its thermal fatigue resistance, as per experiments conducted by a researcher. Under this proposed model, the intermediary company would acquire the patent and manufacture various products such as plates and rods, thereby making them accessible to classified researchers. Funding agencies like the NSF provide grants to universities and research institutions for characterizing such alloys.

The brilliance of the American approach lies in its ability to create self-sustaining ecosystems. In this system, all stakeholders benefit financially: for every unit of the alloy sold by the company, the researcher receives royalties. Moreover, the intermediary company doesn’t have to concern itself with securing orders, thus ensuring smooth operations. This exemplifies how America thrives by fostering innovative and economically viable ecosystems.