Contents
Summary
The GOCO system
of laboratory management is well established and provides several advantages
22 of the larger
US national laboratories employ the GOCO system
The 38 FFRDCs include
all 22 GOCO labs and a further 16 COCO labs
FFRDCs are classified
into three types reflecting the nature of their research
The scope of research
of the 24 R&D FFRDCs is broad, and 15 are at least research
The GOCO system
had its origins in the Manhattan project in World War II
High level policy
governing FFRDCs and GOCOs has been modified by three key documents since
the 50s
However the GOCO
system is prone to certain weaknesses...
Idaho National
Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL)
Ernest Orlando
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab)
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Laboratories employing
the GOCO system receive funding from the government, are owned by the government,
but are operated under contract by non-government entities
GOCO labs are administered
by corporations, universities and colleges, and other non-profit institutions
The GOCO concept
is intimately connected with that of FFRDCs (Federally Funded Research and
Development Centers)
The 16 COCO FFRDCs
conduct mainly defense-related study and analysis, and hence are not party
to the ‘technology transfer conduit’ implicit in GOCO labs
Most GOCOs are
R&D labs, and most COCO FFRDCs are study and analysis centers administered
by non-profit organizations
The majority of
FFRDC funds go into development, although FFRDC funds make their greatest
contribution to basic research
Contents
High level policy
governing FFRDCs and GOCOs has been modified by three key documents since
the 50s (continued)
In particular,
the above legislation can be interpreted as that the GOCO system has evolved
towards more market-oriented principles and government / private sector
partnership
However some conflict
has surrounded the benefits and management of GOCO institutions in recent
years
Contents
GOCO provides four
primary benefits: efficient management, academic independence, smooth technology
transfer, and efficient resource sharing
GOCO provides four
primary benefits: efficient management, academic independence, smooth technology
transfer, and efficient resource sharing (continued)
Comparing the merits
and demerits of four different R&D styles (GOGO, GOCO, COCO, and traditional
arms’ length contracting) shows the management effectiveness and cost-efficiency
of GOCO
Contents
Los Alamos National
Laboratory