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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
Biotechnology and Today's Warfighter
Biotechnology has a broad and often misunderstood scope, one with significant implications for today's warfighter, and it may be reaching a critical junction. As it continues to mature, proactive policy becomes necessary for the federal government to leverage emerging capabilities effectively and remain competitive.
Oct 25, 2022
Essay
What Might Space Look Like in 2050?
It would not take huge technological breakthroughs to make space and space travel a much bigger part of everyday life. Instead, it would take a steady progression of incremental advances—and one development in particular could provide the tipping point.
Jan 5, 2023

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Commentary
Venture Capital Gives America a Strategic Edge in the Age of Technology Wars
U.S. early-stage hardware startups are seriously disadvantaged by a persistent lack of financing. Congress authorized the U.S. Department of Defense to spend $75 million to invest in dual-use hardware startups. But the Pentagon has proven reticent to embrace a venture capital–style approach, even though research has demonstrated it is optimal for driving innovation.
Mar 20, 2023
Report
Strengthening the Defense Innovation Ecosystem
The Department of Defense can more effectively harness commercially developed technologies through policies that incentivize and improve coordination and collaboration between defense innovation organizations and traditional acquisition stakeholders.
Mar 7, 2023
Research Brief
Fostering Innovation in Military Technology: Strengthening DoD's Commercial Technology Pipeline
RAND researchers examined how well the Department of Defense is identifying, developing, and transitioning innovative commercial technologies from the private sector to the military and how the defense ecosystem can better support this process.
Mar 7, 2023
Journal Article
Evaluation Framework for the Strength in Places Fund: A Report for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
This report sets out the evaluation framework for the Strength in Places Fund. It includes a process evaluation to understand what has worked in the design and delivery of the fund and an impact evaluation to understand what SIPF has achieved.
Mar 7, 2023
Report
Strategic advantage in a competitive age: Definitions, dynamics and implications
SONAC commissioned RAND Europe to refine their working definition of strategic advantage. The team developed case studies and conducted expert workshops to explore the types of advantage and how actors seek to maintain and exploit their advantages.
Mar 6, 2023
Report
The relationship between research spending and research performance: A cross-country and in-depth study
This study investigates the relationship between spending and research performance through an econometric analysis and also investigates potential nonlinearities in the relationship between spending and performance through a series of case studies.
Feb 22, 2023
Report
Promoting Strong International Collaboration in Quantum Technology Research and Development
The author discusses (1) the strategic importance of (and challenges of) strong research collaboration with U.S. allied and partner nations and (2) five key policy areas in this space. He also proposes a desired end state for this cooperation.
Feb 22, 2023
Commentary
Brain and Machine Confluence Requires Multi-Sectoral Regulation to Maximize Gains
As the commercialization of brain-computer interface technology expands, it would be prudent for international policymakers to consider how this technology should be regulated, in order to reap its benefits and minimize its risks.
Feb 15, 2023
Brochure
RAND: 75 Years of Making a Difference
To commemorate its 75th anniversary, RAND took a closer look at some of its most influential research. The selections in this volume demonstrate RAND's positive—and enduring—contributions in addressing some of the world's most challenging problems.
Jan 19, 2023
News Release
Pittsburgh Science and Technology Sector Is Large, but Faces Challenges; Improvements Needed to Continue to Flourish
The Pittsburgh region has a robust science and technology sector that is larger than the national average, but action is needed to safeguard the region's strengths and further its ability to compete with other technology hubs.
Jan 9, 2023
Report
Realising the promise of the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy in R&D and exports
This Perspective provides a brief overview of the core principles of the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS), before reflecting on two aspects underpinning the Strategy's assumptions: research and development (R&D) and exports.
Nov 28, 2022
Report
Science and technology as a tool of power: An appraisal
This Perspective examines the UK Government's ambition to use science and technology (S&T) as a tool of power and an integral part of the national security strategy. It also reflects on critical enablers, including conceptual and practical levers.
Nov 28, 2022
Journal Article
Evaluation of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: Baseline Report
This is the final output of second phase of the ISCF evaluation, which is being carried out over three phases and is due to conclude in 2024.
Nov 15, 2022
Journal Article
Evaluation of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: Evaluation Framework Report
This is the final output of first phase of the ISCF evaluation, the purpose of this report is to set out a detailed evaluation approach, which is being carried out over 3 phases and is due to conclude in 2024.
Nov 15, 2022
Report
Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Outbreak
The deadly havoc that COVID-19 has caused around the world has highlighted many weaknesses in pandemic response planning and capabilities. What can the United States and other nations do to prevent and manage future health crises?
Nov 1, 2022
News Release
Second Annual RAND-AUC Consortium Policy Hackathon to Focus on Justice Reinvestment
Undergraduate students from four Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium schools will collaborate with Pardee RAND doctoral students to identify potential justice reinvestment policy options during a virtual hackathon offered by the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and the AUC.
Oct 26, 2022
Research Brief
A long road to just transitions: Limited green job opportunities for disadvantaged groups
RAND Europe, with support from JPMorgan Chase, explored the current situation of green opportunities for disadvantaged groups, in particular for people with low qualifications, in 10 European Regions.
Oct 26, 2022
Commercial Book
Tech Wars: Transforming U.S. Technology Development
This book explores the evolution of the U.S. research and development enterprise, asks whether this organization remains appropriate for current the challenges, and proposes strategies for better preparing for the global technology race.
Oct 13, 2022

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Steven W. Popper

Senior Economist

Steven W. Popper is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. As associate director of the Science and Technology Policy Institute (1996–2001), Popper provided analytic support to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and other…
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…

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