Who’s Responsible for U.S. R&D Investment?

The Cold War era represented the golden age for U.S. research and development (R&D) spending. First there was the massive effort to create atomic weaponry in World War II and the subsequent arms race. Then, spurred by the surprise and fear created when the Russians launched Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the earth, the U.S. embarked on a massive public/private partnership that eventually landed American human beings on the moon first.

The flood of space-related R&D spending resulted in the development of an incredible array of technology, including the GPS system, CAT scanners, LED lighting, freeze-dried foods and, of course, the internet itself. The hallmark of all of these technologies has been the transfer of publicly funded R&D to private interests for development and monetization.

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About the Author(s)

April Hall

April Hall is the former managing editor of Directors & Boards


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