| S&T and Innovation Policy in the United States: an Interview with Karl Hess |
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bridges vol. 19, October 2008 / Feature Article By Caroline Adenberger 
Dr. Karl Hess
With an annual budget of about $6.06 billion, NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing. Karl Hess' appointment to the NSB in 2006 was made after President Bush announced support for Nanostructure Science and Technology as well as Supercomputing Applications. Hess, who holds a PhD in Physics/Mathematics from the University of Vienna, has been a member of the faculty at the University of Vienna, Austria (Applied Physics) and since 1977 of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics). His research interests encompass solid state physics, solid state electronics, nano-science and technology, supercomputing applications, nano-structure simulation and, most recently, quantum optics, quantum information and quantum computing. bridges recently had the opportunity to speak with Karl Hess and his viewpoints on US innovation and S&T policy. bridges: For a long time, the US innovation system has been considered by many as the innovation system of the world. Looking at it today, where do you see its strengths and weaknesses? Hess: The US innovation system is still the innovation system of the world. It derives its standing from the collective work of government funding (through NSF, NIH, DOD, and other institutions), state support, industrial support, as well as support by private foundations and donors. This mega-support has fostered great collaborations between universities, industry, government laboratories, and private Institutes, as well as a "will" and positive attitude toward innovation that serves the US people. There has been a weakening of the system by the demise of some great industrial research institutions (such as Bell Laboratories), and there also exists a need to strengthen pre-college education in the STEM fields (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics). Access to the full article is free, but requires you to register. Registration is simple and quick – all we need is your name and a valid e-mail address. We appreciate your interest in bridges. |
