Abstract
Abstract
In support of its regulatory mission to ensure safety of commercial aviation and space transportation operations, the Congress has provided authority to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the U.S. government to conduct research and development (R&D) at universities (not including contracts) using two distinct approaches: traditional aviation research grants and the Centers of Excellence (COEs). While isolated and episodic research may be best served by individual research grants (IRGs), strategically executed research programs are well served through COEs. U.S. policy reinforces the connection between federally funded R&D and the resultant social and economic benefits to the general public. Both approaches are employed within the FAA's current research “portfolio.” This analysis demonstrates the unique attributes of COEs over IRGs in being better able to achieve the high-level policy goals. In summary, COEs are well suited (often better suited) than IRGs to stimulate economic growth through more effective workforce development, increased innovation creation and diffusion, and increased alignment with industry needs. COEs accomplish this by educating the professionals of the future, developing a research network that makes available specialized resources over the course of a decade, and solving strategic problems in research areas critical to the industry and the nation as needed.
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