Charles Redmond
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                     
July 30, 1993
(Phone:  202/358-1757)

Ernie Shannon
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
(Phone:  205/544-6536)


RELEASE:  93-138

ARKANSAS, NASA SIGN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACCORD

     In a July 28 ceremony at the State Capitol in Little Rock, 
Ark., Governor Jim Guy Tucker and Thomas J. Lee, Director of 
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., signed a 
memorandum of understanding to conduct a joint effort to 
transfer NASA-derived and NASA-contractor-derived technologies 
to businesses, industries, academic institutions, research 
facilities and individuals in the state.

     Following the ceremony, Lee said he was pleased to 
represent NASA in launching this cooperative effort to increase 
NASA technology transfer activities in Arkansas.  Arkansas 
becomes the seventh state with which the Marshall center has 
technology transfer understandings.  The others are Louisiana, 
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia.

     "NASA is much more than Space Shuttles and satellites," Lee 
said.  "Research projects underway at NASA laboratories have a 
wide range of dual use applications which could be of great 
benefit to Arkansas."

     Governor Tucker said "we are looking forward to working 
closely with the Marshall center's Director of Technology 
Utilization Ismail Akbay and his staff."

     "A full-time technology-transfer representative from the 
Marshall center will be assigned to work exclusively with 
Arkansas industries, academic institutions and individuals.  
When necessary, NASA scientists and engineers may accompany the 
representative on his visits.


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     "The technology transfer agreement we've signed will enable 
Arkansas firms and academic institutions to take maximum 
advantage of the many discoveries and refinements produced by 
NASA each year," Tucker added.

     Governor Tucker said Arkansas' goal is to develop 
innovative processes that will enhance the state's domestic and 
global competitiveness, create jobs and attract new industries.

     NASA has made numerous advances in the fields of 
electronics, medicine, aeronautics, propulsion and a wide range 
of other disciplines.  The program inaugurated under this 
agreement consists of a series of business and industrial 
outreach workshops which are aimed at making those advances 
available in Arkansas.

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