Federal research innovation, commercialization

Manlnger, R.C., "Some Commercial Innovations from Technology Transfers of Federal Research and Development," UCRL-78312, July 16, 1976. 

If the pace of innovation does threaten our economic welfare, why did the President not recommend a comparable boost for applied civilian research and development which, in theory, have a much more direct bearing on commercialization Perhaps the answer is that the Administration prefers to leave development largely to the private sector, ameliorate some of the negative effects on innovation of current Federal regulatory, economic, tax, and antitrust policies, and institute indirect incentives by way of creating a more favorable economic climate. This is one possible outcome of the mammoth interagency innovation policy study, which the President launched in May 1978 and directed to produce recommendations by April 1, 1979. 

The unique nature of federally funded R D, in addition to its size, makes this a special topic in its own right. A number of problems for commercialization and, therefore, innovation are similar to industrially supported research. However, a great many more problems are not related, including ownership of patent rights, goal-oriented programs not related to the commercial market, lack of incentives, questions as to the extent of government involvement, etc. 

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