Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation

Why take this course? Here’s a story about one student who took it _(excerpts fromMIT News article, 11/18/20): _

“Academia,” “government,” “industry” — Bhavik Nagda squinted closely as his professor pointed to each word on the diagram of the American economy’s core components. Between each word sprouted dozens of arrows, illustrating the complex interactions between the three institutions.“There were just so many arrows,” says Nagda, recalling the presentation during MIT’s Science [and Technology] Policy Bootcamp. “I was blown away. It gave a voice to the way I think about systemic issues and how America has built its economy.”

The pieces finally connected when he attended the bootcamp, taught by Bill Bonvillian, of MIT.... Nagda had already observed the importance of cooperation between innovators and policymakers during several internships, in roles as an engineer and a technology investor. The bootcamp crystallized his understanding of how critical this cooperation is to the U.S. economy — and he began to envision a future for himself working at the intersection of technology, innovation, and policy.

*Regarding the in-person version of this class at MIT *

“Among the most popular …This [in-person MIT version of this course] is consistently oversubscribed; capped at 40 students, over 230, nearly twice the capacity, have applied over the past three years. – MIT Science Policy Initiative student organization

“I would like to sincerely thank you for sparking my curiosity for the innovation process and inspiring me to think about and view many technological advancements in our world through the innovation systems lens. I especially enjoyed learning the stories of tuxedo Park, the Great Groups Class and the NIH/Biotech class, and I hope to carry these lessons forward as I innovate in different groups at MIT and beyond” – Comment from an MIT student

“Wanted to thank you for a great semester and for the very detailed feedback [on my paper]; I have learnt a lot from you and our class discussions, and I am sure it will be useful as I start my career.” – Comment from an MIT student

Q: Do I need a background in economics?

A: No, while the economics of innovation will be discussed, a background in economics is not needed.

Q: Do I need to be a scientist or engineer to take this course?

A: No, while these fields will be discussed, a scientific or engineering background is not necessary, only an interest in innovation and technology.

Q: Who would be interested in this course?

A: Those with a general interest in public policy particularly for innovation and technology development; those who want to understand how innovation comes about; those studying science and engineering who want to see how their work fits into the innovation process; those in government who want a background in science, technology, economic growth and innovation policy; those in industry who want to understand overall innovation theory and systems; those with an interest in particular technology fields such as energy, health science, computing, manufacturing and overall R&D.