最近《纽约时报》网络版上有一篇博客，呼吁美国增加对创新体系的投入。题目很有意思：奥巴马需要一个“创新部”吗？Does Obama Need a Department of Innovation?

文章的逻辑是：经济危机既是挑战也是机遇。对于长期刺激经济发展来讲，必须增加对创新的投入，必须要加快基础研究和技术突破产业化的速度。政府在其中扮演了很重要的角色。但美国没有一个统一的创新体制，资源太分散，不容易集中力量办大事。建议：一是在政府内阁层面成立一个“创新部”，统一联邦政府在这方面的行动。二是在刺激经济发展的计划中增加对创新投入的部分。三是理顺对小企业创新资金的支持系统，因为小企业是创新的核心。

链接见：http://community.nytimes.com/blogs/comments/dotearth/2008/12/10/do-we-need-innovation-department.html?permid=37#comment37

我的同事Jay Katzen是美国人，同时也是爱思唯尔内部负责产品研发的一把手，我想他可能出于爱国和对创新的兴趣，在此博文下发了一段不短的评论，提出美国再不振作（在科研方面），就要被中国等后起之秀赶超了。我全文引述如下：

The call for a Department of Innovation is an intriguing one as it recognizes the challenges the U.S. is increasingly facing on the research productivity front. Though addressed to an extent in the Block/Keller paper, an important concern is that basic research, the foundation upon which future breakthroughs are built, is not left playing second fiddle to applied research. More closely associated with innovation and offering near-term results, applied research already holds the scientific spotlight.

Obama's plan for science and innovation specifically calls for a balance between the two and this will require the type of oversight that could be delivered by a cabinet level department… perhaps it is only the proposed name that needs adjustment.

One thing is clear; while the U.S. still remains the leader in scientific output, emerging nations such as China have been making great research strides over the last decade (see link at the end of this post). The U.S. research leadership position is no longer set in stone. Holding on to this position will require the U.S. government, private sector and university leadership and department heads to be very strategic about research investments particularly in today's difficult economic times.

Taking a deep-dive look into current research strengths and weaknesses will be critical to plot a course for near and long-term success. It will also be increasingly demanded as investors, funding agencies and taxpayers seek transparency into spending and ROI. Getting a picture of how the U.S. measures up to other nations will also be a key component.

With a new administration taking office, the timing is right for the U.S. to put its stake back in the research leadership ground or run the risk of “innovation” becoming a foreign word.

See "Focus on China: The Trajectory of Chinese Research"

http://www.info.scopus.com...

— Jay Katzen, Amsterdam

 

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链接地址：https://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-3686-51582.html

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