Public/Private Partnerships for Innovation: Experiences and Perspectives from the U.S. 'U&KDUOHV:HVVQHU 'LUHFWRU 7HFKQRORJ\DQG,QQRYDWLRQ 861DWLRQDO$FDGHP\RI6FLHQFHV FZHVVQHU#QDVHGX 1
Outline of Presentation Policy Background Who We Are: The National Academies Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP) R&D Declines and Policy Ambivalence in the U.S. Role of Small and Medium Enterprises The Scale and Nature of U.S. Programs The Relative Size of Early Stage Finance Optimal Financial Arrangements for Promoting Partnerships Evaluating Partnerships Managing Partnerships Effectively Concluding Remarks 2
National Academies Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy A Rare Combination: STEP brings together economists, technologists, industrialists, venture capitalists, and policymakers. STEP brings business and policymaking experience, analytical rigor, and technical knowledge to issues of public policy. Established to improve policymakers understanding of the interconnections among science, technology, and economic policies and their importance to the U.S. economy. 3
National Academies Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy STEP Recognizes Challenges to the Innovation Environment Post Cold War imbalances in U.S. public and private R&D Changing relationships among industry, government, and universities Partnerships are increasingly important to bring new technologies to market and capture the benefits of heavy U.S. R&D investments Growing recognition of value of partnerships to firms participating in the global economy 4
U.S. Policy Context: R&D Declines and Policy Ambivalence 5
Relative R&D Growth Rates: Index (1953-1998) Total, Federal, and Company 12.0 10.0 7RWDO 5 ' 8.0 6.0 4.0 &RPSDQ\ 5 ' 2.0 - Source: National Science Foundation Constant 1992 Dollars )HGHUDO 1953 1956 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 Year Company Federal Total 1995 1998 6
Mechanical engineering Changes in Federal Research Obligations for All Performers and University/College Performers 100% FY 1993-1999 (constant dollars) 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Electr ical engineering Geologic al sciences Chemical engineering Physics Chemistry Astron omy Metallurgy/ma terials engineering Psychology Agricultural sciences Mathematics Atmospheric sciences Astronautical engineering Social sciences Environmental biology Civil engineering Aeronautical engineering Biological sciences Other engineering Oc eanography Medic al sciences C omputer sciences -20% -40% -60% All performers Universities & Colleges -80% 7 Percent change
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U.S. Policy Context for Partnerships Analysis: Ambivalence The United States is traditionally ambivalent about government support for applied R&D Policymakers most comfortable with linear model of innovation many believe that government support for basic R&D will transfer seamlessly to the economy at large There exists genuine skepticism in Washington about government support for industrial innovation This view is frequently held in spite of: numerous examples from U.S. history current U.S. practice current practice elsewhere in the world 9
Precedents for Public Role in Science Commercialization 1798 - Grant to Eli Whitney to produce muskets with interchangeable parts, founds first machine tool industry 1842 - Samuel Morse receives award to demonstrate feasibility of telegraph 1919 - RCA founded on initiative of U.S. Navy with commercial and military rationale. Patent pooling, antitrust waiver and equity contributions. 1969-1990s - Government investment in forerunners of the Internet (ARPANet) Current investments in genomic/biomedical research The issue is how to commercialize innovation 10
Role of Small and Medium Enterprises 11
The Role of SMEs Simple Conceptual Flow Model 5HVHDUFK New Knowledge 60(V Commercial Viability? Rising Standard of Living Society Better Off National Security Tax Revenue: Resources for R&D Economic Growth Commercialization -Applicability? -Pervasiveness in use can lead to substantial Productivity Gains e.g., semiconductors 12
Scale and Nature of U.S. Programs 13
The U.S. Innovation Ladder Scale and Nature of U.S. Programs Support to New Technology Development on the U.S. Innovation Ladder The Basis for Growth: Sustained Support for University Research Private Funding Friends, Family, and Fools Angels Foundations: Support for socially valuable innovation Early phase development: SBIR ($1.2 billion annually) Phase I is a $100,000 grant Phase II is a $750,000 grant Phase III involves no direct federal award Mid-range development: ATP ($217 million annually) Focus on technologies with broad social benefits Sizeable but limited awards: 1-5 million dollars 14
Scale and Nature of U.S. Programs Government Procurement of New Technologies Focus by agencies on mission related technologies Increased emphasis on commercial technologies or dual-use CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreements) Cooperative research carried out with national laboratories and individual firms or consortia (sometimes involving foreign firms, e.g., the EUV consortium) What is not a major U.S. Program? U.S. R&D tax credit mainly benefits large business is not focused on startup firms most new firms are characterized by limited revenues 15
Early Stage Finance: Crossing the Valley of Death and Swimming the Darwinian Sea The Role of Partnerships 16
The Valley of Death After Congressman Ehlers Basic Research Capital to Develop Ideas Applied Research No Capital (Innovation) Valley of Death 17
Branscomb s Darwinian Sea The Struggle of Inventions to Become Innovations Research & Invention Innovation & Innovation: new new business business Struggle for Life in a Sea of Technical and Entrepreneurship Risks 18
Crossing the Valley of Death only to Arrive in the Waters of the Darwinian Sea Valley of Death Basic esearch The Darwinian Sea Invention Innovation & New Business Research & Invention Innovation: new business Viable Business 19
Crossing the Valley Venture Capital Investment (Millions) 120,000 100,000 $103,849 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000-1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 20 Source: National Venture Capital Association
Venture Capital Investment by Quarter (Millions) 30,000 $28,470 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 $7,716-1999-1 1999-2 1999-3 1999-4 2000-1 2000-2 2000-3 2000-4 2001-1 2001-2 2001-3 Source: National Venture Capital Association 21
Composition of Venture Capital Investment (millions) Expansion Early Seed Chart is adapted from: http://www.velocityholdings.com/pv-web.nsf/pages/nationalstatistics 22
Definition of Venture Capital Stages Seed financing-usually involves a small amount of capital provided to an inventor or entrepreneur to prove a concept. Startup financing-provides funds to companies for use in product development and initial marketing. Other early-stage financing-provides funds to companies that have exhausted their initial capital and need funds to initiate commercial manufacturing and sales. Expansion financing-includes working capital for the initial expansion of a company or for major growth expansion, and financing for a company expecting to go public within six months to a year. Leveraged buyout financing-includes funds to acquire a product line or business from either a public or private company, utilizing a significant amount of debt and little or no equity. Acquisition financing-provides financing to obtain control, possession or ownership of a private portfolio company. The first three may be referred to as "early stage financing" and the remaining three as "later stage financing." Source: NSF 23
The Allocation of Resources for Research Basic research l curiosity research l strategic basic research Applied research Product development Commercialisation Uncertainty and Distance to Market Seed/Angel Early 1st Round VC Valley of Death The Focus of Programs such as SBIR and ATP Business development Investment 2nd Round VC Expansion Venture Capital Allocation Curve Private Industry Allocation Curve Total Allocated Resources 24
Optimal Arrangements for Promoting Partnerships 25
Optimal Financial Arrangements for Promoting Partnerships: Countries use a variety of instruments to support particular firms or an entire industry by using: Short Term Awards to Develop New Technologies Direct grants to Companies Preferential Loans Government guarantees for loans Equity Capital Infusions by Government or Government Controlled Banks Targeted Tax Concessions for specific sectors and/or regions 26
Optimal Financial Arrangements for Promoting Partnerships: Technology promotion in the U.S. relies on awards, often with the prospect of procurement Preferred options are awards which are: Small in Size allows more diversity in selection encourages initial innovation Limited in Duration Avoid Political Capture Require in-kind or direct cost sharing 27
Partnerships for Encouraging Technological Development and Commercialization 28
Encouraging Technological Development or Commercialization The ATP Approach Relatively Large Awards Leveragability Halo Effect (Awards help attract other capital) Explicit Cost Sharing Awards are limited in time No repeat awards One-Off Approach Joint ventures preferred to encourage diffusion 29
Evaluating Partnerships 30
Evaluation of Partnerships Evaluation Must be an Integral Part of Program Design Risk of Political Capture Friends of the Minister problem Preferred Sectors Risk of Misallocation sustained financing to preferred firms sustained support can sap small firm vitality The Danger of Discrediting Technology Support But, the hard question is: What are the Proper Metrics? 31
How Should a Program be Evaluated? Quality of R&D? What s the Measure of Quality? Publications Patents Patent Citations Number of Innovations Sometimes Unreported Commercialization Rates Sales Licensing Sale of technologies Sale of firm Magnitude of Spillovers: Indirect path of acquired knowledge 32
How Should the Program be Evaluated? Firm Performance measured by: number and type of jobs generated higher wages higher sales higher survival rates Another Measure can be Mission Based: Management and Integration of New Technologies into Agency Programs and Missions, from Environment to Defense DoD or NASA acquisition NSF and NIH are sometimes harder to measure 33
Measurement Issues in Evaluation Developmental Impacts: e.g., Are Jobs Created as a result of the Program? Do more productive firms win awards or do awards make firms more productive? What is the Return on Investment (ROI): social return? Can we study the reject firms, as well as analyze firm performance before the SBIR grant, to discern the program s effects Issue: No data currently available on firm performance before first award is granted Is there Crowding out of Private R&D? Are firms which would have received private sector R&D, seeking free or supplemental funds from government? 34
The Efficient Management of Partnerships 35
Management of Partnerships Government plays a decisive role in the development of new programs or focus areas, e.g., to meet emerging societal needs and address excessive risk and uncertainty Industry should propose specific research areas, identify technological opportunities, and be responsible for exploiting the results, e.g,. bringing products to market Support by multiple private firms is a key condition for government financial participation Shared costs provide a constant, active, and powerful reality check 50/50 works well. Losing only half the cost of research projects is not career enhancing for private managers Private actors abandon poor investments quickly more quickly than government actors 36
Concluding Remarks 37
Concluding Points and Broader Policy Implications Advances in Technology drive economic growth, and thus generate jobs, enhance welfare, and assure national security Government can stimulate scientific research which will not be performed by industry alone via programs such as SBIR and ATP Government funding for science activities serves as a catalyst among and within companies to develop new ideas Current NRC assessment efforts seek to provide a comprehensive analysis of ongoing contributions, accomplishments, and challenges of public-private partnerships. 38
Concluding Points and Broader Policy Implications Generating science-based growth is a major policy interest around the world. The role of small business and university-based growth is seen as increasingly instrumental to bringing the benefits of research to the marketplace. Public-Private Partnerships address key elements of the innovation system and is therefore of central policy interest OECD should be commended for its research and analysis of best-practice in public-private partnerships 39