Beyond the Endless Frontier
Science, the Endless Frontier is the 1945 policy document that articulates the dominant rationale for the US government’s investment in scientific research. The influence of Science, the Endless Frontier on science policy discussions and actions cannot be overstated—continuing with the recently proposed Endless Frontier Act now being debated in Congress. The essays here examine the legacy of Science, the Endless Frontier and evaluate the best path forward for science’s ability to deliver societal benefits.
May 12, 2022
Fostering Innovation to Strengthen US Competitiveness Through the National Science Foundation
Technology innovation is one of the twenty-first century’s key economic battlegrounds. After decades of concern that America’s competitiveness in the global economy is at risk, China’s economic expansion—coupled with the recent military… Read More
All Posts in this Collection
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November 18, 2021
A More Productive Way to Spread Federal Science Funding Around
In an age of many irreconcilable partisan divisions, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have quietly come to agree on at least one thing: the federal government must do more to shore up American… Read More
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August 25, 2021
Can Europe Help the United States Avoid a $115 Billion Boondoggle?
Over the next five years, the United States may invest $115 billion in scientific and technological innovation in addition to the amount that the federal government already spends. The extra money is… Read More
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April 27, 2021
A Bipartisan Vision for the Future of American Science
A few weeks ago, I was joined by Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK), along with Research & Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Ranking Member Michael… Read More
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November 10, 2020
Endless Industrial Policy
Industrial policy refers to deliberate government actions that affect economic activity more narrowly than the usual run of macroeconomic measures—for instance, by guiding and perhaps forcing investment and innovation in particular technologies… Read More
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October 19, 2020
In the Realm of the Barely Feasible
What would the Vannevar Bush of 1945 make of 2020? He could beam with justifiable pride in having paved the way for an information revolution, an eightfold growth in real gross domestic… Read More
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October 05, 2020
A “Sedative” for Science Policy
If I have to read another article about Vannevar Bush I’m going to throw up. That is what a graduate student of mine told me last fall as we looked forward to… Read More
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Fall 2020
Who Benefits From Science?
A common belief among policy-makers, scientists, and businesspeople is that more science and technology (S&T) funding leads to more S&T development, which in turn leads to a better life. This expectation is… Read More
A Discussion of
Public Value Science
Responses By
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September 11, 2020
The Endless Frontier Act Could Foster Technology Job Growth Across the United States
After years, even decades, of neglect, the United States may finally be starting to take economic growth policy seriously. The Endless Frontier Act (S. 3832), a bipartisan bill designed to scale up… Read More
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September 09, 2020
How to Lead Innovation in a Changed World
In borrowing its title from the 1945 policy framework created by Vannevar Bush, the Endless Frontier Act currently before Congress seeks to increase federal government investment in science and technology to “combat… Read More