>Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
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.
National Security Commission on AI Requests New Ideas; RAND Responds
The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence put out an open call for submissions about emerging technology's role in the global order. RAND researchers stepped up to the challenge and submitted a wide range of ideas.
The Right Technology Can Help Refugees Stay Connected
Nearly 71 million people globally are displaced by conflict and persecution. There have been some real advances in technology to help them, but innovations have often been fragmented, without a larger vision. A more strategic approach to technology could better serve their needs.
Explore Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
All Authors All Authors Abir, Mahshid Abler, Andrea M. Ablon, Lillian Adamson, David M. Ali, Gemma-Claire Altenhofer, Marlene Anderson, Brent Baker, Eleanor Baruch, Ben Bellasio, Jacopo Berdahl, Carl Berry, Sandra H. Bienkowska-Gibbs, Teresa Binnendijk, Anika Black, James Blondes, Emma Louise Bloom, Erika Litvin Bloom, Gabrielle Blume-Kohout, Margaret E. Blumenthal, Marjory S. Bordeaux, John Brahmakulam, Irene T. Brooker, Daniel Butz, William Camm, Frank Castle-Clarke, Sophie Cave, Jonathan Chandra, Anita Chataway, Joanna Chow, Brian G. Cochrane, Gavin Cornish, Paul Cox, Carla Cox, Kate Culbertson, Shelly d'Angelo, Camilla Dean, Kevin Deshpande, Advait Devaux, Axelle Dossani, Rafiq Dubow, Talitha Dunkerley, Fay Ecola, Liisa Efron, Sonni Eiseman, Elisa Eusebi, Christopher A. Exley, Josephine Favaro, Marina Fischer, Shira H. Fossum, Donna Fraade-Blanar, Laura Francombe, Joe Freeman, Jon Galai, Katerina Galama, Titus Garber, Steven Garrod, Bryn Gates, Susan M. Gehlhaus, Diana Geist, Edward Gerstein, Daniel M. Ghiga, Ioana Gloinson, Emily Ryen Graf, Marlon Grant, Jonathan Gross, Mihal Gunashekar, Salil Guthrie, Susan Gutierrez Gaviria, Carlos Ignacio Hafner, Marco Han, Eugeniu Harte, Emma Hill, Steven Hinrichs, Saba Hocking, Lucy Holliday, Maynard A. Hollywood, John S. Horvath, Veronika Hosek, James Ioppolo, Becky Irwin, J. Luke Jackson, Brian A. Johnston, Trevor Kalra, Nidhi Kamenetzky, Adam Kellermann, Arthur L. Kirtley, Anne Knack, Anna Knopman, Debra Kofner, Aaron Krapels, Joachim Kumar, Krishna B. Larivière, Vincent Lee, Mary Lempert, Robert J. Lepetit, Louise Lichten, Catherine A. Ling, Tom Lohn, Andrew J. MacLure, Calum Madrigano, Jaime Manville, Catriona Maricevic, Maja Marjanovic, Sonja Marler, Timothy Marquis, Susan L. Mattke, Soeren McGrath, Cecile Hoareau McInroy, Gordon R. Mikolic-Torreira, Igor Morgan Jones, Molly Nelson, Christopher Ochmanek, David Painter, Lawrence S. Parasiliti, Andrew Parks, Sarah Parris, Stuart Persi Paoli, Giacomo Petrun Sayers, Elizabeth L. Pollitt, Alexandra Popper, Steven W. Rich, Michael D. Rodriguez-Rincon, Daniela Rohr, Charlene Ryseff, James Shatz, Howard J. Silberglitt, Richard Smith, Elta Smith, Troy D. Snyder, Don Spisak, Anton Stewart, Katherine Sussex, Jon Taylor, Jirka Tingstad, Abbie Wagner, Caroline S. Wang, Mark Y.D. Wasserman, Jeffrey Weinbaum, Cortney Welser, William IV Wilsdon, James Wolf, Charles, Jr. Wong, Anny Wong, Jonathan P. Wooding, Steven Woods, Dulani Wyne, Ali Yang, Miaoqing
Now Could Be the Time to Form Policy for Emerging Brain- and Body-Enhancement Technologies
Policymakers might consider developing appropriate policy frameworks for emerging brain- and body-enhancement technologies to ensure that innovations harnessed for societal, economic, or military benefits do not create new vulnerabilities and that governments adequately defend and manage against potential attacks. The technology is quickly moving forward. Policy may need to play catch-up.
Are We Ready for the Internet of Bodies?
Any device can be hacked, including one inside the human body. We need to think through the privacy and security implications of devices that live with us. But we should also consider the life-changing, life-saving potential of technologies that know us inside and out.
How could technological developments influence the future of cybercrime?
How could technological developments influence the future of cybercrime? RAND Europe investigated this policy question and identified possible approaches to prevent future technologies from being exploited for criminal purposes.
The Future of Cybercrime in Light of Technology Developments
RAND Europe conducted a study to: 1. Analyse future technologies and how these could be used to commit or prevent cybercrimes. 2. Propose ways to prevent future technologies from being exploited for criminal purposes.
China's Propensity for Innovation in the 21st Century
China aspires to be a major creator of new technologies and novel value-adding applications for those that already exist. How far will China be able to go toward achieving this goal? And what information is needed to better understand China's propensity for innovation?
What Influences Quality Improvement Processes in Health Care?
Periods of rapid change offer both opportunities and challenges for health care quality improvement. Understanding the building blocks that need to be in place to support improvement processes may help those seeking to embed improvement capabilities and capacity into their organisations, both as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Before Redesigning the REF, a New Survey Could Help in Understanding What Is and Isn't Working
September's call for more sustainable and agile research funding signaled a renewed push by research-intensive universities in the UK for a funding and assessment system with a lighter touch. Before embarking on a further round of changes, it is important to listen and learn from researchers and managers about what has and has not worked well.
Science, Technology and Innovation Research at RAND Europe
Our researchers help clients understand how to maximize the gains that science, technology and innovation can bring to society and the economy, and how unintended consequences can be mitigated through effective regulation and stakeholder engagement.
How States and Localities Might Approach Operational Design Domains for AVs
An operational design domain (ODD) is a description of the conditions in which an autonomous vehicle is designed to operate safely. No nationwide ODD policy exists, but because ODD is partly about the characteristics of a specific location, state and local policies could be useful.
COVID-19 Briefing Series: Catalyzing Solutions for a Changed World
Dean Susan Marquis discusses how the Pardee RAND Graduate School quickly pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic, initiating a series of projects and partnerships to help communities directly respond to the crisis.
How to Harness Technologies in the Fight Against COVID-19
The pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis. But the response from science, technology, and innovation communities has been remarkable. It proves that innovation and learning, interdisciplinary methods and collaboration, information and data sharing, and adaptability are more important than ever.
The Unforeseen Consequences of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Society: A Systematic Review of Regulatory Gaps Generated by AI in the U.S.
Explores how artificial intelligence (AI) influences U.S. public policy, what gaps exist due to AI methods and applications and examines what trends and insights are emerging that can help stakeholders plan for the future.
Innovations During COVID-19: Silver Lining or Threat to Patient Safety?
We still don't know what works best to treat COVID-19. Some of the ideas and innovations are outstanding, but they are, so far, untested. There is an urgent need to evaluate ongoing innovations to learn what works and what doesn't, and what may have costs that are acceptable only under crisis conditions.
How Should Artificial Intelligence Be Regulated?
RAND's Patrick Roberts discusses important factors to consider in developing a set of norms for the regulation of artificial intelligence.
COVID-19 Highlights the Shortcomings of America's Digital Infrastructure
Much like America's aging physical infrastructure, America's digital infrastructure needs updating. To fix these urgent problems, local, state, and federal governments could turn to best practices used in the private sector to develop more reliable software.
The Benefits and Risks of Face Recognition Technology
Face recognition technologies (FRTs) offer opportunities to improve identification efforts, but they also raise concerns about privacy and bias. Understanding the trade-offs between the utility and risks of FRTs is crucial for evaluating their adoption and implementation.
Should Communities Be Concerned About Digital Technologies to Fight COVID-19?
Personal smart devices offer an unprecedented opportunity to identify, track, map, and communicate about COVID-19. But apps could pose privacy and security concerns.
The Future of Research Outputs
The changing nature of research outputs has the potential to affect a wide range of organizations and people. A proactive stance could help drive research towards better practices in information storage, sharing and communication, but requires early action and shared goals at a sector level.
Needed: A Blueprint for a Post-Vaccine World
When a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, many in rich countries may be able to afford it while the poor and uninsured may not. The time to plan for equitable access, financing, intellectual property rights, and global production is now.
Leading with the Proper Use of Scientific Evidence Is Better Than Hiding Behind It
Evidence only has scientific meaning when it is part of a body of disciplinary knowledge produced by a community of scientists. Leading with scientific evidence, coupled with a wider values framework, may result in better outcomes for all.
Marjory S. Blumenthal
Senior Policy Researcher
Marjory Blumenthal is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. She joined the RAND Corporation as director of the experimental Science, Technology, and Policy program in spring 2016, with a broad remit that includes science and technology trends, societal impacts, and policy. Her work…
Nicholas Broten
Assistant Policy Researcher
Nick Broten is an assistant policy researcher at RAND and recently received his Ph.D. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His current work focuses on the labor market experiences of injured workers, school to work transitions, and the management of chronic pain.