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Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

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Science, technology, and innovation policy shapes the science and research enterprise, with the goal of directing its activities to serve public needs. RAND experts have explored how to incentivize high-value products in the health care sector, examined government options for promoting and accelerating innovation in housing, and determined how to design "prizes" that spur breakthroughs.

Commentary
Tackling the Existential Threats from Artificial Intelligence
Addressing potential risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) could begin with simple steps like finding appropriate risk-management approaches, conducting research to determine how AI can better meet designers' intent, and devising responses to issues related to racism, sexism, and other biases within AI systems.
Jul 11, 2023
Report
Scientific and Technological Flows Between the United States and China
Leaders from both the United States and China have recognized scientific and technological dominance as a national priority. But what are the potential benefits and risks of U.S.-Chinese scientific research collaboration?
Jun 15, 2023

Explore Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

Commentary
What the REF 2021 Impact Case Studies Can Reveal About UK Research
A new study on the Research Excellence Framework 2021 impact case studies demonstrates the rich and varied impacts of UK research, and the extensive contribution of UK institutions and the academic community both nationally and globally.
Nov 15, 2023
Report
Data enhancement and analysis of the REF 2021 Impact Case Studies
RAND Europe and partners conducted a study to examine the broader societal impacts of research conducted at UK higher education institutions, as represented by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) Impact Case Studies.
Nov 9, 2023
Report
Impacts of research from Scottish universities: Analysis of the REF 2021 Impact Case Studies
RAND Europe and partners conducted a study to examine – for the first time – the broader societal impacts of research conducted at Scottish universities, as represented by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) Impact Case Studies.
Nov 9, 2023
Report
Exploring red teaming to identify new and emerging risks from AI foundation models
RAND Europe and the Centre for Long-Term Resilience organised a workshop to discuss red teaming as a method to identify the risks and capabilities of artificial intelligence foundation models in the lead up to the AI Safety Summit in November 2023.
Oct 31, 2023
Commentary
Fixing the Problem of Innovation in the Health and Care System
The National Health System has an innovation problem. The problem is not that the system lacks an appetite for innovation; rather, it is that successive efforts to create an enabling environment for innovation have been met with only limited success. But why?
Oct 27, 2023
Blog
Israel-Hamas War, AI and Gene Editing, Social Media Regulation: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the Israel-Hamas war, the convergence of machine learning and gene editing, regulating social media while protecting free speech, and more.
Oct 27, 2023
Report
Machine Learning and Gene Editing at the Helm of a Societal Evolution
The confluence of machine learning and gene editing has the potential to transform health care, agriculture, national security, and many other fields. How can policymakers minimize the risks and maximize the benefits?
Oct 23, 2023
Commentary
Protecting Free Speech Compels Some Form of Social Media Regulation
Given the profound challenges posed by social media, corrective measures need to go beyond “deplatforming” bad apples. But how can the United States make such a structural change without compromising the democratic tradition of free speech?
Oct 20, 2023
Commentary
Isn't It Obvious? Why Making the Case for Big Research Infrastructure Is Important
Large-scale research infrastructure is enormously expensive. Is the real impact and value of major investment in research facilities worth the cost?
Oct 20, 2023
Commentary
Educating Academics Will Ease UK Universities' Foreign Influence Crisis
Tackling China's quest for foreign technologies is tough. China exploits the very principles—openness, freedom, collaboration—that have fostered scientific breakthroughs to acquire foreign technologies. This makes it difficult to intervene without damaging these values in the process.
Oct 19, 2023
Journal Article
Evaluation of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: Process Evaluation Report
This process evaluation provides recommendations for the design, delivery and engagement processes of the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF).
Sep 22, 2023
Commentary
Progress or Peril? The Brave New World of Self-Driving Science Labs
Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) promise to reshape our very understanding of research. But, as with all groundbreaking innovations, SDLs bring their own set of intriguing questions and potential challenges.
Sep 18, 2023
Commentary
Speaking in One Voice to Advance Space Acquisition
Space acquisition is hard, and many challenges remain today for development of true unity of effort. But a new “clean sheet” is not the answer. Such an approach simply cannot take the place of doing the hard work required to realize enduring change.
Sep 6, 2023
Commentary
A Model for Regulating AI
While AI will bring many benefits, it is also potentially dangerous. We would do well to establish a model of oversight that focuses on the three parts of the AI supply chain: hardware, the training of each model, and rigorous review before each model is released.
Aug 16, 2023
Commentary
Rethinking Who's Winning the U.S.-China Tech Competition
The competition between the U.S. and China is a multi-dimensional contest involving technological, economic, military, and political elements. To accurately assess a nation's standing, the focus should shift from measures (raw numerical data) to metrics, which offer meaningful interpretations of these numbers.
Aug 16, 2023
Testimony
Advancing Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence: Addendum
Document submitted August 1, 2023, as an addendum to testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 22, 2023.
Aug 9, 2023
Testimony
Ensuring That Government Use of Technology Serves the Public: Addendum
Document submitted August 2, 2023, as an addendum to testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation on June 22, 2023.
Aug 9, 2023
Report
Understanding social sciences, humanities and arts for people and the economy (SHAPE) R&D in the UK and internationally
Commissioned by the British Academy, we investigated how social sciences, humanities and arts for people and the economy (SHAPE) R&D is understood and captured in the UK economy and in a wider international context, using a mixed methods approach.
Jul 27, 2023
Report
Assessing Technology Platforms for Global Health Engagement to Support Integration of Efforts Across Geographic Combatant Commands
The authors assess the technology and process requirements to support the life cycle of global health engagement (GHE) activities and assessments — from planning to evaluation — and the information- and knowledge-sharing needs of the GHE community.
Jul 11, 2023

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Jing Zhi Lim

M.Phil. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Jing Zhi Lim is a M.Phil. candidate at Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. He has a B.Sc. in quantitative finance and computer science from the National University of Singapore. Prior to joining Pardee RAND, he was a researcher at the Lee Kuan…
Marjory S. Blumenthal

Adjunct Policy Researcher

Marjory Blumenthal (she/her) is an adjunct policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. She joined RAND as director of the experimental Science, Technology, and Policy program in spring 2016, with a broad remit including science and technology trends, societal impacts, and policy. Her work at RAND…

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