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FLC board member Paige George urges more access, partnerships and virtual outreach to broaden federal lab collaboration
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Summary
Paige George, a board member and committee chair of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC), says expanding virtual programming, national partnerships and promotion of T2 professionals will increase lab access for industry and researchers.
Paige George, a member of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) board, told The Transfer Files that engagement and access are the FLC's top priorities after COVID.
"Providing access. How do we get our people that are part of the FLC out into all of these other professional consortiums?" George asked, emphasizing the value of national partnerships, webinars and virtual platforms to reach researchers who cannot travel.
George described programs she helped lead as Southeast Regional Coordinator: a technology series on underwater vehicles and a lab showcase that used public affairs materials to highlight partnerships and successful collaborations. She said those initiatives drew leadership attention and created concrete connections between her lab's researchers and industry partners.
She also described the FLC's recent strategic campaign to increase prominence and outreach, including a weekly digest, an improved website and educational webinars. "Our promote committee is absolutely phenomenal," she said, adding that FLC aims to raise the profile and prestige of T2 professionals.
On the podcast George also noted institutional context: she traced her FLC involvement from first attending the national meeting in 2015, to regional coordinator in 2019, to committee roles in 2021–2022, and continuing board work in 2024. She said cross‑agency sharing of best practices — how different laboratories interpret the same statutes and instructions — is a central benefit of FLC convenings.
The episode ends with George urging federal labs to continue expanding partnerships so they can "do business" with industry and provide more access points to the federal research enterprise.
