Experts Say States, Foundations and Financiers Attempting to Fill the U.S. Innovation Policy Vacuum

In China, R&D investment is growing at a breathtaking rate. In Finland, three established universities that focused on design, business management and technology have been combined into an "innovation university." Singapore has a life sciences initiative that will one day employ thousands of researchers from throughout the world. Australia and the United Kingdom each have established innovation ministries.

And in the U.S., Congress has passed two innovation bills to support traditional education and research, but over the past two years, it has yet to provide full funding for either of them.

It was a prevailing theme at the recent AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy: While nations worldwide are committed to economic growth and well-being based on innovation, the U.S. government seems unable to shake an ominous state of inertia. "In Sweden, if you want to call the person who's in charge of innovation, I guarantee you, someone answers that phone," said author and innovation guru John Kao. "In the United States, no one answers that phone."

But in a series of lectures and discussions, some of the nation's top innovation experts described efforts by states, foundations, and private financiers are helping to fill the federal leadership vacuum.

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