The "Science of Science Policy": reflections on the important questions and the challenges they present (journal article)
By Adam B. Jaffe
from Journal of Technology Transfer Volume 33, Number 2 April 2008, p. 131 - 139
"Developing the "Science of Science Policy" will require data collection and analysis related to the processes of innovation and technological change, and the effects of government policy on those processes. There has been much work on these topics in the last three decades, but there remain difficult problems of finding proxies for subtle concepts, endogeneity, distinguishing private and social returns, untangling cumulative effects, measuring the impact of government programs in a true "but for" sense, and sorting out national and global effects. I offer observations on how to think about these issues. "
Assessing the nature of nanotechnology: can we uncover an emerging general purpose technology? (journal article)
By Jan Youtie, Maurizio Iacopetta and Stuart Graham
from Journal of Technology Transfer Volume 33, Number 3 June 2008, p 315 - 329
"Attention has increasingly shifted towards the long-run perspective on technological innovation, which suggests that progress comes in waves, each one originating with a major breakthrough or general purpose technology (GPT). This paper seeks to assess whether nanotechnology is likely to be (or become) a GPT, a characteristic that other researchers have sometimes assumed though not necessarily documented. Based on a survey of existing literature, this paper will explore the extent to which nanotechnology addresses three primary characteristics of a GPT: pervasiveness, innovation spawning, and scope for improvement. The paper draws on patent and patent citation databases to highlight the types of quantitative and qualitative information that would be necessary, and in some instances is still lacking, to characterize fully the nature of nanotechnology. "
Technology parks in a developing country: the case of India (journal article)
By Geetha Vaidyanathan
from Journal of Technology Transfer Volume 33, Number 3 June 2008, p 285 - 299
"Following the economic liberalization of 1991, the government of India established the software technology parks of India (STPI) scheme and opened numerous software parks around the country. These parks have played a critical role in the growth of India’s software sector. In recent years, private software parks have also been established in different parts of India. The government of India is now promoting biotechnology (biotech) parks to encourage growth of this emerging sector. The biotech parks are still in their infancy with a few operating parks. There are several upcoming biotech parks in different Indian states with support from the respective state governments. The government of India continues to play an important role in establishing technology parks. Biotech-Information Technology (Bio-IT) park is the next type of park that the government is planning to promote. This article discusses the institutional history of these technology parks in India. "
Government and Science: A Troubled, Critical Relationship and What Can Be Done about It(journal article)
By W. Henry Lambright
from Public Administration Review Volume 68 Issue 1 , JanuaryFebruary 2008 p. 5-18
"The U.S. government–science relationship, which helped win World War II, put a man on the moon, unravel the human genome, and nurture economic growth, is troubled. Money is one reason. However, far more than funding, the tensions between government and science are about politics and policy management. Many scientists and their allies argue that the Bush administration has crossed the line separating appropriate control of information from political interference. That is, there has been a "politicization of science." This essay examines the current debate about politicization in historical context; discusses the tensions among scientists, politicians, and administrators; and suggests possible ways to strengthen the government–science partnership in the future."
