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Beyond Patents: Assessing the Value and Impact of Research Investments

Completed

Companies know exactly what they spend on research, but knowing exactly what they get for their money is a persistent problem. Without a good way to measure value, research—especially innovative fundamental research—can be viewed as a cost that can be cut to boost near-term earnings (supposedly without long-term consequences). The number of patents is one metric for measuring the value of research, but that information is not necessarily useful without knowing the business value of those patents in the marketplace. What other metrics serve to highlight the value of research and innovation?

Description

An ad hoc committee will organize a public workshop on assessing the value and impact of research investments, looking at measures other than the counting of patents. The focus of the workshop, which will be held in conjunction with the June 2017 GUIRR meeting, will be on corporate research investments, primarily, but touch upon federal research investment assessment and trends as well. A brief rapporteur-authored proceedings will be published.

Collaborators

Committee

Kelly O. Sullivan

Chair

Taylor Eighmy

Member

Carl J. Schramm

Member

Staff

Susan Sauer Sloan

Lead

Megan Nicholson

Major units and sub-units

National Academy of Sciences

Collaborator

National Academy of Medicine

Collaborator

Policy and Global Affairs

Lead

Government-University-Industry-Philanthropy Research Roundtable

Lead

U.S. Science and Innovation Policy

Lead

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