PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION: A NEW NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PROGRAM

摘要

Innovation has been the dominant source of productivity gains and new enterprises in the U.S. economy, accounting for as much as fifty percent of U.S. economic growth over the last fifty years. Innovation is the transformation of knowledge into new products, processes, systems and services; it is grounded in science and technology, but has implications well beyond both. Key factors in the innovation enterprise include creation of and access to new knowledge, a scientifically and technologically literate workforce prepared to capitalize on new knowledge, and an enabling infrastructure. Academic institutions play an essential role in generating new knowledge and creating a scientifically and technologically literate workforce. However, few academic institutions have all of the necessary capacity to provide the infrastructure to foster innovation. By forming partnerships with private sector firms and local, state, and federal governments, colleges and universities have the potential to establish the infrastructure necessary for innovation. The National Science Foundation, through its Partnerships for Innovation Program, seeks to stimulate innovation by supporting such partnerships.