Table of Contents

U.S. Technology and Innovation Policies: Lessons for Climate Change

Foreword   ii

Executive Summary   iii

I. Introduction   1

II. Climate Change and Technological Innovation   2

A. Overview of the Problem   2
B. The Role of Technological Change in GHG Control Strategies   4
C. Summary   5

III. The Process of Technological Change  6

A. Invention and Innovation   6
B. Contrasting Patterns of Technological Innovation   11
C. Summary   14

IV. A Review of Federal Technology Policies   15

A. A Taxonomy of Technology Policy Tools   15
B. Government-Funded R&D   16
C. Collaborative R&D   21
D. Knowledge Diffusion and Technology Deployment Programs   26
E. Protection of Intellectual Property   27
F. Other Technology Policies   28
G. Summary   29

V. Regulatory Policies and Technological Innovation   31

A. Environmental Policy   31
B. Energy Policy   33
C. Summary   33

VI. Learning from Success and Failure in High-Technology Industries   34

A. Commercial Aircraft   34
B. The Electronics Industries   36
C. Nuclear Power   39
D. Summary   41

VII. Conclusions   42

Endnotes   44