Research and development (R and D) leads to innovation, and innovation leads to technological change. Technological change, in turn, is the primary driver of economic growth. Public/private partnerships -- cooperative relationships among industry, government, and/or universities -- leverage the efficiency of R and D and are thus a critical aspect of a nation¿s innovation system.
This text is intended for upper-level undergraduate and MBA courses such as Economics and Technology, Economics of Innovation, and Economics of Science and Technology, among others. The first chapter introduces the concept of public/private research partnerships along with other concepts fundamental to an understanding of innovation and technology policy. The framework chapters (2-5) set forth an argument for the public¿s role ¿ government¿s role ¿ in innovation in general and in public/private partnership in particular. The remaining chapters (6-14) describe a number of public/private partnerships and, to the extent possible, evaluate their social impact.

The History of Public/Private Partnerships.- Public Support of Innovation.- Technological Change and R&D.- Alternative Models of Technological Change.- The Patent System.- Tax Incentives.- Research Collaborations.- Research Joint Ventures.- Advanced Technology Program.- National Institute of Standards and Technology.- Small Business Innovation Research Program.- Program Evaluation.- Concluding Statement.