National R & D Policy: An Industrial Perspective

Abstract

An analysis of how the government can and cannot use research and development policy to improve the nation's industrial posture suggests four guidelines for federal R & D policy: (i) concentrate direct support on academically based research, not on government-targeted industrial R & D; (ii) concentrate on sunrise science and technology, not on sunrise industries and products; (iii) concentrate on strengthening the climate for privately based innovation, not on government-selected innovation; (iv) concentrate on development for the government's own needs, not on development for market needs.