The removal of Don 't ASK don't tell and the ratification of a brand new START Treaty represent milestones for the suddenly more productive lame duck Congress and the press has these developments according to covered. But Congress passed another law amidst this flurry of activity - the America competes Act - and although this step not nearly so energetic cover the media, it is potentially very significant and commendable in its own right.
America competes Institute of standards and technology and the National Science Foundation, 3 agencies on incubating and generating innovations that focused around our country at the forefront of an increasingly competitive global economy, designed authorized sustained growth in the budgets of the Department of energy's Office of science, the laboratories of the national.
Beyond what many hope a bona-fide turning point in the effort to American ingenuity and innovation, will use authorized America competes all federal agencies sponsor prize contests and spur innovation, especially annoying problems in your domains and their missions ahead.
Prize competitions are an effective strategy for stimulating proved our country innovators. The private increasingly use sector and philanthropist. According to a study by McKinsey over 60 prizes introduced value of $100,000 or more in fact, such organizations between 2000 and 2007. Total prize money, associated with these competitions approaches $ 250 million.
The competitions are perhaps best known among these sponsored by the X Prize Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with philanthropists and the private sector to promote innovation by cash prizes for those that major technological problems to solve. In September excellent it won, for example, $ 10 million to 3 teams that calls the progressive insurance Automotive X-Prize by creating a production-ready car, the 100 miles per gallon (or an equivalent energy).
The X Prize Foundation has also established cash prices for groups that lands relating the gene sequencing and the first private group specified cost and speed and operates a Rover on the Moon reach.
And Eric Hintz points out, America is not the first example of Government-funded innovation competing challenges. Way back in 1714 Hintz writes offered British Parliament cash prizes for those who could develop a means to calculate longitude at sea. It took a while, but finally John Harrison won almost £ 14,315 for its marine chronometer. And in 1800, a food preservation prize created the French Government to help provide food to Napoleon's army. A decade later, Nicolas Appert won 12,000 francs by developing a vacuum packaging process used for preserved until today.
So far, the Federal Government of no open innovation had however, implemented price-oriented strategy
But, as a contribution by Tom Kalil and Robynn storm on the open government initiative blog President Obama combined set to change when he floated the idea as part of the 2009 proposal entitled strategy for American innovation. Then, six months after a March 2010 memo from the Office of management and budget confirms the Administration's commitment to the new concept, the White House and the General Services Administration "Challenge.gov, a one-stop shop where compete for prestige and prices by innovative solutions for difficult national issues, large and small entrepreneurs, innovators and citizens engine launched."
In just 3 months since its launch, Challenge.gov 27 federal agencies helped 57 challenges on issues to advanced vehicle technologies and small business financing share of obesity and type 1 diabetes.
Comment
I honestly cannot remember a more creative, dynamic initiative coming out of Washington. Innovation is in this country's DNA. It has helped to make our country great. We need more than ever in today's increasingly competitive global economy. In addition, prize competitions are whether has been sponsored by Governments or others demonstrated to work. Allow the sponsors exponentially increase the number and diversity of people who are focused on the toughest challenges.
And as said Hintz, the sponsor pays only for positive results.
Nice work, fellas!
Glenn Laffel, MD, PhD, is a successful entrepreneur in health information technology. He blogs about on Pizaazz.
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