The book is an expert exploration of the foundations of America’s science and technology policies, and the dynamics of its innovation system. 

 

Why study science and technology policy? What role does innovation play, and how do we foster it? Economics tells us technological innovation drives economic growth and societal well-being, but technology is always a double-edge sword—great technological advances offer both opportunities and threats. Pioneering Progress explains the complex science and technology innovation system and discusses the challenges of emerging industrial policies. Drawing on in-depth case studies on critical areas such as energy, computing, advanced manufacturing, and health, with an emphasis on the needed public policy and the federal government R&D role in those systems, the book reviews the foundations of economic growth theory, innovation systems theory, and innovation organization theory. 

 

The book reviews a new theory of direct and indirect economic factors in the innovation system. It describes the innovation-based competitive and advanced manufacturing challenges now facing the U.S. economy, reviews comparative efforts in other nations, studies the varied models for how federal science and technology mission agencies are organized, and explores the growth of public-private partnership and industrial policy models as a way for science mission agencies to pursue mission agendas. Pioneering Progress places particular emphasis on the organization and role of medical science and energy innovation agencies, and how we can address the gaps in the health, energy, and advanced production innovation economic models. 

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Reviews: 

“This tour-de-force on American science and technology dives deep into debates over innovation policy. Bonvillian brings analysis and vision only someone embedded both in Washington and in academia could attain.”

--Suzanne Berger, Institute Professor, MIT; author of How We Compete and Making in America: From Innovation to Market

 

“Bonvillian, a scholar of federal policy, shares his insights about its role in promoting innovation, the source of economic growth. Fascinating stories and factual summaries about science, engineering, manufacturing, energy, health, and education makes it an interesting and important read.”

--Phillip A. Sharp, Institute Professor emeritus, MIT, Nobel Prize in Medicine and/or Physiology 1993, co-founder of Biogen 1978 and Alnylam 2002 biotechnology companies

 

"This highly authoritative book addresses not only the principles and practices underpinning science and technology policy but, most impressively, how we might do it better."  

--Professor Sir Michael Gregory, CBE, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Founding Head, Institute for Manufacturing, Cambridge University

 

"Context is everything when it comes to understanding the evolution of U.S. science, technology, and innovation policy. And, there are very few scholars who rival Bonvillian’s insight into the network of historical events that shaped these elements of economic growth. This book is a must read for individuals of all backgrounds. Each reader will leave this expertly written journey with an appreciation of how our nation has become the technology envy of the rest of the world.”

-- Albert N. Link, Professor Emeritus, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Formerly, the Virginia Batte Phillips Distinguished Professor and U.S. Representative to the United Nations (in Geneva) as co-vice chair of the Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies Initiative for the Economic Commission for Europe (2007 to 2012).