4 ms·

We need to shift away from our dependency on the grant system, and the only way to do that is to make basic research profitable for private industry. I just do

We need to shift away from our dependency on the grant system, and the only way to do that is to make basic research profitable for private industry. I just don't see any other way to do it. What America really needs isn't more scientists, although that would be nice. What's required is more scientific training for entrepreneurs and business people, so that they can help shepherd projects out of the lab and into products. If having a research lab becomes viewed as a competitive advantage by investors, then getting funding becomes simple. There are a few major success stories, where companies consistently use advanced research to churn out profitable products - Google and 3M spring immediately to mind. We should be trying to replicate those models.

muhfuhkuh 17y ago
I've always used this example for those that think our medicine and medical care in the US are #1 because of our "exchange-based" health care system. You'd be hard-pressed to name one cure to a deadly world-wide condition that a private corporation has developed based on solely their own R&D. From Diptheria to Polio, the cure or vaccine for the vast majority of diseases afflicting the world in any significant way were developed in Academic laboratories, usually under government funding such as NIH grants. In fact, alot of our most significant technologies are grounded in academia, then later licensed or commercialized. Google's one. In fact the government's NIST technology transfer and Small Business Innovation Research orgs promote start-up researchers to use NIST resources such as grants and lab space/time to bring experimental technologies to market. Meanwhile, companies are _usually_ punished by Wall St. for giving more and more toward R&D. Most public companies simply cannot do it for fear of investor revolt.

4 ms·

We need to shift away from our dependency on the grant system, and the only way to do that is to make basic research profitable for private industry. I just do

by megaduck 17y ago

muhfuhkuh 17y ago
I've always used this example for those that think our medicine and medical care in the US are #1 because of our "exchange-based" health care system. You'd be hard-pressed to name one cure to a deadly world-wide condition that a private corporation has developed based on solely their own R&D. From Diptheria to Polio, the cure or vaccine for the vast majority of diseases afflicting the world in any significant way were developed in Academic laboratories, usually under government funding such as NIH grants. In fact, alot of our most significant technologies are grounded in academia, then later licensed or commercialized. Google's one. In fact the government's NIST technology transfer and Small Business Innovation Research orgs promote start-up researchers to use NIST resources such as grants and lab space/time to bring experimental technologies to market. Meanwhile, companies are _usually_ punished by Wall St. for giving more and more toward R&D. Most public companies simply cannot do it for fear of investor revolt.