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Upcoming Events

Crossing the Valley
of Death: SBIR &
Early-Stage Funding in the U.S.
Date: TBD
Washington, DC

Rebuilding the Transatlantic Bridge:
U.S.-Polish Cooperation on Science, Technology, and Innovation

3-4 December, 2009
Washington, DC

STEP Board Meeting
October 1-2, 2009
Washington, DC

STEP Board Meeting
January 14-15, 2010
Location TBD


Latest Reports

                                                 

 


News                                                                                                                           

New Report examines the “Hidden Costs of Energy”...

Unlike the benefits of energy, most of which are reflected in energy market prices, the production, distribution, and use of energy cause damages, many of which are not reflected in prices. When market failures like this occur, there may be a case for government interventions in the form of regulations, taxes, fees, tradable permits or other instruments that will motivate recognition of these "external" costs.

A new Academy report mandated by Congress and sponsored by the Department of Treasury, Hidden Costs of Energy: Unpriced Consequences of Energy Production and Use defines, categorizes, and eliminates many of the external costs associated with electricity generation, motor vehicle transportation, and heating and identifies others that are difficult to monetize (e.g., national security costs and ecosystem effects).   In the aggregate the costs that can be monetized are substantial, at least $120 b in 2005, chiefly from fossil fuel-generated air pollution effects on health.

Looking forward, the report estimates life cycle damages from electricity generation by biomass and wind, electric and hybrid vehicles, and vehicle fuel from biomass.  Some but not all have lower damages that do coal and oil.  Damages from climate change are estimated but not included in the aggregate number because of the uncertainties about damages over long time horizons and lack of agreement among experts about the discount rate to use in converting future costs into present dollars. 

To read the press release for this report please go here...

To view the summary, please go here ...

Copies of the report can be obtained here...

This report was a collaborative effort between of the Academies' Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology (BEST), Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP), and Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES).  The ad hoc study committee was chaired by Jared Cohon, President of Carnegie-Mellon University.  Maureen Cropper, University of Maryland economist, was vice chair.



Research ParksSTEP Releases Report on Science and Technology Parks…

The STEP Board has released a summary of its March 2008 conference titled Understanding Research, Science, and Technology Parks: Global Best Practices. The report examines efforts around the world to accelerate the transition of ideas from universities and public laboratories to commercial markets by providing high technology firms with shared facilities and geographical proximity to research expertise and each other.  The conference featured examples of parks in China, Singapore, India, the U.K., Mexico, Hungary, and France as well as U.S. parks centered on national laboratories and universities.  While great diversity exists, successful parks tend to exhibit similar features such as committed champions, professional management, funding of infrastructure and companies, effective bridging institutions, and human capital.   The report features a review of the academic literature on parks and extensive discussion of evaluation metrics.  For more information please contact Adam Gertz (agertz@nas.edu).
 
 
 

ReCENT meetings                                                                                            

Understanding Research, Science, and Technology Parks:
Global Best Practice, Report Release Symposium
September 22, 2009

Agenda

Partnering for Photovoltaic Manufacturing in the United States
July 29, 2009

Agenda

Audio & Presentations



Synthetic Biology Symposium
July 9-10, 2009
 

Agenda

Audio & Presentations



Growing Innovation Clusters for American Prosperity
June 3, 2009

Agenda

Presentations

Audio




The Future of PV Manufacturing in the United States
April 23, 2009

 Agenda

Presentations

Audio



Financing Solar in Hard Times: A Policy Review

February 20, 2009

Agenda

PPT Presentaions




From Concept to Application: Managing the Transfer of Academic Research Results
November 20-21, 2008

Agenda

Session Recordings




U.S. and Polish Innovation Systems: Opportunities and Challanges
October 8-9, 2008

Agenda




Making Big Solar Work: Achievements Challenges & Opportunities
July 29, 2008

Agenda 



Intangible Assets: Measuring and Enhancing Their Contribution to
Corporate Value and Economic Growth
June 23, 2008

Agenda

PPT Presentations



Critical National Needs in New Technologies:
Opportunities for the Technology Innovation Program
April 24, 2008

Agenda

PPT Presentations




Understanding Research Science and Technology Parks: Global Best Practice
March 13, 2008

Agenda




The Dragon and The Elephant:
Understanding the Development of Innovation Capacity in China and India
September 24-25, 2007

Agenda

PPT Presentations





 

 

 

Current Projects

 

Management of University IP: Lessons from a Generation of Experience, Research, and Dialogue
Nearly 30 years after the Bayh-Dole Act, what are best practices in commercializing the results of academic research?

Comparative Innovation Policy: Best Practice for the 21st Century
What are other countries -- such as India, Taiwan, Japan, China, Belgium, and Poland -- doing to promote technology-based economic development?

Competing in the 21st Century: Best Practice in State and Regional Innovation Initiatives
What lessons are there in state and regional efforts to promote technology development -- lessons for each other and for the federal government?

Investor Exits and Entrepreneurial Firm Growth
What difference does it make if early-stage technology-based firms go public or are absorbed by existing firms?

Intangible Assets: Measuring and Enhancing Their Contribution to Corporate Value and Economic Growth
Corporate spending on R&D, intellectual property, software, brand recognition, organizational capacity, and training exceeds investment in plant and equipment.  How can these assets be measured, represented in the national economic accounts as investments for future returns, and promoted?

Health, Environmental, and Other External Costs and Benefits of Energy Production and Consumption
What is the real cost of fossil fuel, nuclear, and alternative energy production, transportation, use, and waste disposal if the health, environmental, and national security costs are taken into account?

The Globalization of Innovation
How are R&D and other innovation activities being redistributed worldwide in key manufacturing and service industries – e.g., semiconductors, computing, software, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and logistics?



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Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy
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500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.334.2200: Phone
202.334.1505: Fax
dmullins@nas.edu