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$63 billion to produce 400 companies seems like a statistic someone would cite if they wanted to argue against this funding. That is roughly $150 million per ea
by wuliwong 9y ago
$63 billion to produce 400 companies seems like a statistic someone would cite if they wanted to argue against this funding. That is roughly $150 million per each new company. That seems like a very high number, particularly when their is no qualifier as to the success of any of these companies.
- bogomipz 9y agoBut the article is citing them as a net positive. no? And its just not 400 companies but also 2,600 patents.
- torpfactory 9y agoDon't forget that you also help to fund quite a few PhDs, masters students and undergraduate research assistants, many of whom go on to work in private industry....
- maksimum 9y agoAnd hopefully those students acquire skills that let them earn more (create more value to society) and hence pay more taxes than if they had only had a bachelors.
- tertius 9y agoThe problem with this argument is that the 400 companies are not all that are created.
- Fomite 9y agoKeep in mind that's 400 companies produced essentially as an ancillary outcome of research. Very little research $ is actually spent deliberately toward commercialization (SBIR grants come to mind) and in many cases, the incentives are against it. Universities are also major employers and economic engines in their own right.