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This monograph defines public sector entrepreneurship in terms of innovative public policy initiatives that generate greater economic prosperity by transforming a status quo economic environment into one that is more conducive to economic units engaging in creative activities in the face of uncertainty.

"Metrology is the study of measurement science. Although classical economists have emphasized the importance of measurement per se, the majority of economics-based writings on the topic have taken the form of government reports related to the activities of specific national metrology laboratories. This book is the first systematic study of measurement activity at a national metrology laboratory, and the laboratory studied is the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The primary objective of the book is to emphasize for academic and policy audiences the economic importance of measurement not only as an area of study but also as a tool for sustaining technological advancement as an element of economic growth. Toward this goal, the book offers an overview of the economic benefits and consequences of measurement standards; an argument for public sector support of measurement standards; an historical perspective of the measurement activities at NIST; an empirical analysis of one particular measurement activity at NIST, namely calibration testing; and a roadmap for future research on the economics of metrology"--

The genesis of inventive ideas -- New invention disclosures -- Experiences and inventive ideas -- Leveraging the experiences to inventive ideas process -- Inventive ideas as a driver of technology transfer -- Inventive ideas as a driver of technology activity : a case study -- CRADAs : market failure and government failure? -- Concluding observations.

"In order to understand collaborative research activity in the United States, it is important to understand the contextual environment in which firms pursue a collaborative research strategy. The U.S. environment for formal collaborative research was established through a number of policy initiatives promulgated in the 1980s in response to the widespread productivity slowdown throughout industry that began in the early-1970s, and then intensified in the late-1970s and early-1980s. These initiatives include the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 and its amendments, the National Cooperative Research Act of 1984 and its amendments, and the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986. Collaborative Research in the United States offers a critical and retrospective description of collaborative research activity in the United States in an effort to provide a prospective framework for policymakers to evaluate future policy initiatives to encourage such strategic behavior. The analysis that underlies the policy framework draws from the performance of U.S. firms' experiences, presenting a quantitative foundation for recommendations about future policy initiatives. It will be of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, and students in the fields of critical management studies, strategic management, economics, and public policy"--

'This is a fine collection of papers focusing on the role of public support in facilitating innovation. A key theme is the concentration on innovation by small firms, which is both timely and crucial. The collection should be of value to scholars, policymakers and students.' - (Rajeev K. Goel, Illinois State University, US). -- Public support for innovation, chiefly through government programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, has had a significant impact on fostering economic growth in the US. This collection synthesizes a decade of scholarship from Albert N. Link on the subject, specifically on small, technology-based entrepreneurial firms. -- Based on data collected by the National Research Council of the National Academies of the United States on projects funded through the SBIR program, these papers form a comprehensive foundation that will serve as a critical guide to the topic for both academics and policymakers. Divided into four main subjects - commercialization of new technology, employment growth, spillover benefits and policy - the essays tackle a number of critical issues in the field and offer insightful suggestions for future research and policy approaches. -- Students and scholars of business and management, public policy, economics, entrepreneurship and innovation studies will find this a useful and comprehensive resource, as will policymakers, entrepreneurs and business leaders. (Back cover)

Government as entrepreneur : an introduction (9,538 words) -- Overview of fundamental concepts : setting the stage (7,498 words) -- Research partnerships : organizational structures for innovative efficiency -- (7,520 words) -- Advanced technology program : stimulating competitiveness through cooperative research (6,826 words) -- National institute of standards and technology: an institutional response to innovation barriers (9,845 words) -- Biofuels : the renewable fuel standards (5,082 words) -- University research parks : prospective infrastructural policies (8,779 words) -- Small business innovation research program : an environment to enhance commercialization (4,743 words) -- Conclusions (3,263 words)

"We offer empirical information on the correlates of commercialization activity for research projects funded through the U.S. National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award program. Based on this analysis we suggest possible recommendations for improving this aspect of the performance of NIH's SBIR program. Specifically, we estimate a model of the probability of commercialization as a function of the project's ability to attract additional developmental funding, along with other control variables. We find that additional developmental funding from non-SBIR federal sources and from own internal sources are important predictors of commercialization success, relatively more so than additional developmental funding from venture capitalists. We also find, among other things, that university involvement in the underlying research increases the probability of commercialization. Thus, these factors should be considered by NIH when making awards, if increased commercialization is an objective"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site