Technology Policy: A Fixture on the National Agenda

Abstract

In his commentary, Robert Kidd, president of the Maine Science and Technology Foundation, echoes the call by Rycroft, Kash and Adams in their article [this issue] for a new technology policy focused on industrial competitiveness. He defines a partnership role for states in the design and implementation of national technology priorities. James Ward, IV and Richard Hill, raise several questions in their commentary. Can we rely on the federal government to successfully direct this policy area? How would a new technology policy impact the roles and responsibilities of the private and public sectors? What can we learn from partnerships between universities and industry that have led to innovation and enhanced competitiveness and did they result from good policy or practical incentives at the local level?