Promoting Technological Innovation in the United States: The Roles of Public and Private Sectors (Federal Incentives for Innovation NSF/DRI Task II-14)

摘要

The changing roles of public and private sectors in promoting and financing technological innovation are discussed together with some of the problems encountered by the Federal government in accelerating innovation. Principal sources of economic development in the U.S. sponsored by both public and private sectors are reviewed. Special attention focuses on those factors, such as the accumulation of scientific knowledge and resulting discoveries or new product development techniques growing out of scientific advances, heavily dependent on innovation. Emphasis then shifts to consideration of technology as a major economic development factor whose effectiveness relies almost entirely on innovative processes. The changing structure of the economy coupled with increasing governmental promotion and financing of innovation is altering the traditional role of private enterprise as the fount of innovation. Increasing governmental participation in research and development is operating through grants and contracts to both profit and non-profit private-sector research organizations. The presentation concludes with a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of contracting out to private organizations and a discussion of a case study of technology promotion in the specific area of urban mass transportation.