Abstract
Innovation is extremely chancy. Innovative ideas are like frog eggs: of a thousand hatched, only one or two survive to maturity. Because early researchers into the nature of technology transfer did not appreciate the uncertain nature of the innovative process, they were too quick to label embryonic transfer centers a failure. Today, innovation is better understood, and more mature centers such as NERAC with its unique multiple data base approach are routinely documenting that scientific information does aid innovation.