Papers Commissioned as Inputs to Annual Science and Technology Report (ASTR) (2nd). Volume II. The Federal Role in the Development and Commercialization of Technology

摘要

Public concern about energy and productivity has led to increasing government sponsorship of technologies for private and mixed markets where the federal government is no longer the primary consumer. This new situation is beyond the experience of most government officials and raises several basic issues in public policy and administration. Two such fundamental issues are addressed in this paper, First, what should government's investment policy be in support of the development and commercialization of technologies, energy or other, for private and mixed markets. And, second, what role should government play to maximize the likelihood of its investment success while minimizing its intrusion into traditional domains of the private sector. The level of government support is a function of the value of the technology to the nation as a whole.