Some designs for policy experiments and government incentives for the R&D/innovation process

Concern over a decline in the productivity of research and development (R&D) activities in the U. S. economy has stimulated a search for ways to correct this situation. The National Science Foundation and the Carl Foundation have programs aimed at the development of conceptual models of the research and development/innovation (RD/I) process, in the hope that this will lead to insights. The National Science Foundation also has programs aimed at the development of policy experiments, such as organization design changes, federal policy changes, and alterations to existing state and federal regulations. This paper presents a model of the RD/I process and a list of candidate experiments. The model was developed on the basis of an analysis of significant variables found by other researchers, case studies, and interviews with research administrators. The experiments were deduced from this model with the aid of a logico-deductive design paradigm and a panel of experts. The model and the list provide insights into the RD/I innovation process, and a checklist of policy guidelines and administrative actions for further study.