Major Technology Advances that Began with Federal Research Funding and Support [SLIDESHOW]

Feb. 6, 2014

Federal funding matters: Learn which innovations got their start with government funding and support.

Quick question: What do Google, artificial prosthetics, smartphone technologies, and the shale gas revolution all have in common?

If you answer that they each got their start as federally funded and supported basic research projects, you're correct.

In the next several slides, you will discover how these and other critical innovations can be traced back to U.S. Federal research and development (R&D) support and funding. If this doesn't convince you of the importance government backing plays in driving major technological advances, which drives our economy, I fear you'll never be convinced.

There must be a few non-believers. That the U.S. maintain this investment should be a no-brainer, but you couldn't tell that by U.S. budget commitments. While the U.S. continues to dominate global share of R&D funding, its lead continues to erode--while China and other Asian nations are racing to catch up.

Peter Singer, Science and Technology Policy Fellow at MIT's Washington Office, gathered together the stories upon which this gallery is based. Learn more details by reading his report, Federally Supported Innovations: 22 Examples of Major Technology Advances that Stem from Federal Research Support, published last month.

So... do you think government should continue its support of basic R&D?

About the Author

Patricia Panchak | Patricia Panchak, Former Editor-in-Chief

Focus: Competitiveness & Public Policy

Call: 216-931-9252

Follow on Twitter: @PPanchakIW

In her commentary and reporting for IndustryWeek, Editor-in-Chief Patricia Panchak covers world-class manufacturing industry strategies, best practices and public policy issues that affect manufacturers’ competitiveness. She delivers news and analysis—and reports the trends--in tax, trade and labor policy; federal, state and local government agencies and programs; and judicial, executive and legislative actions. As well, she shares case studies about how manufacturing executives can capitalize on the latest best practices to cut costs, boost productivity and increase profits.

As editor, she directs the strategic development of all IW editorial products, including the magazine, IndustryWeek.com, research and information products, and executive conferences.

An award-winning editor, Panchak received the 2004 Jesse H. Neal Business Journalism Award for Signed Commentary and helped her staff earn the 2004 Neal Award for Subject-Related Series. She also has earned the American Business Media’s Midwest Award for Editorial Courage and Integrity.

Patricia holds bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and English from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She lives in Cleveland Hts., Ohio, with her family.