In the current era of intense pressure to improve products, protect the environment, increase safety, and exploit high technology, and with good reasons to reduce costs, the mobility industry can benefit greatly from pre-competitive cooperative research. The National Cooperative Research Act of 1984 makes this possible without incurring antitrust problems, and both government and universities are interested in participating. SAE stands ready to assist in cooperative efforts by bringing these participants together and by providing administrative, legal, and contracting services, meeting facilities, and staff. The SAE Research Executive Committee suggests promising areas of cooperative research, seeks participants, and monitors projects as they are carried out. Criteria for participation and funding arrangements are determined project by project, and companies themselves may determine who participates in the cooperative projects. To date, ten projects have been initiated under SAE auspices.
