Naval Engineering: Alternative Approaches for Organizing Cooperative Research

TRB Special Report 266: Naval Engineering: Alternative Approaches for Organizing Cooperative Research evaluates alternative approaches for organizing and managing cooperative research programs in naval engineering.

At the request of the Office of Naval Research (ONR), TRB/the Marine Board convened a committee to investigate and evaluate alternative approaches for structuring cooperative research programs in naval engineering. ONR is concerned about having both research products in “total ship design” and designers who are capable of designing complex warships according to this approach. In a fast-track study, the committee evaluated four approaches to structuring a cooperative research program and provided its assessment of these options. Each model was assessed in terms of its ability to balance the perspective of the various stakeholders (Navy, shipbuilding industry, and universities) in the development of a research agenda, the production of useful research, and the ability to attract students into the field.