Stephen Crutchfield: Inside FLC's T2 Mechanisms Chatbot for Federal Tech Transfer

Federal technology transfer can be difficult to navigate, especially for someone approaching a government laboratory for the first time. From CRADAs and licensing agreements to material transfer agreements, each option serves a different purpose. Simply figuring out where to begin can become a hurdle before a conversation ever takes place. Stephen Crutchfield helped develop the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s T2 Mechanisms chatbot, a tool designed to make that first step easier. Users describe what they hope to accomplish with the government and what resources they need. The chatbot then points them toward a mechanism that may fit their situation while offering a straightforward explanation of how it works. In this episode, Stephen shares how the team turned dozens of federal authorities into a much simpler decision tree. We talk about the work involved in refining the chatbot and why it is meant to guide users rather than replace a technology transfer professional. He also explains how a clearer starting point could make federal laboratory partnerships feel more accessible to companies and researchers. In This Episode: [02:32] Stephen explains how the T2 Mechanisms chatbot helps people outside the federal government find a possible starting point. [04:08] The team reviewed federal laws and agency authorities before narrowing them into simpler concepts. [06:45] An extensive spreadsheet evolved into a decision tree built around what non-federal partners hope to accomplish. [08:25] Each result includes a recommended mechanism with an explanation and references to the authority behind it. [09:02] The tool introduces users to their options while leaving the final recommendation to technology transfer professionals. [11:12] Testing the decision tree required repeated adjustments when certain answers produced the wrong result. [11:40] Feedback from the technology transfer community could help shape future versions of the chatbot. [12:33] The generated recommendation also teaches users about the basics of each mechanism. [13:08] A reminder to explore the chatbot with different inputs and see how its recommendations change. Resources:  Federal Labs Consortium Federal Labs Consortium - Facebook Stephen Crutchfield - LinkedIn T2 Mechanisms Chatbot Stephen Crutchfield: Commercializing Navy Research Through Strategic Matchmaking