Where Have You Gone, Bell Labs?

theodp writes "Name an industry that can produce 1 million new, high-paying jobs over the next three years, challenges BusinessWeek. You can't, because there isn't one. And that's the problem. So what's the answer? Basic research can repair the broken US business model, argues BW, saying it's the key to new, high-quality job creation. Scientific research legends like Bell Labs, Sarnoff Corp, and Xerox PARC are essentially gone, or shadows of their former selves. And while IBM, Microsoft, and HP collectively spend $17B a year on R&D, only 3%-5% of that is for basic science. In a post-9/11 world, DARPA's mission has shifted from science to tactical projects with short-term military applications. Cutting back on investment in basic science research may make great sense in the short term, but as corporations and government make the same decision to free-ride off the investments of others, society suffers the 'tragedy of the commons,' wherein multiple actors operating in their self-interest do harm to the overall public good. We've reached that point, says BW, and we're just beginning to see the consequences. The cycle needs to be reversed, and it needs to be done quickly."

Comments

One Research Lab is Still Hiring...

[ZackSchil]

They're looking for talented engineers and scientists with LOTS of imagination to take important projects from concept to reality!

Check out their website and apply if you want to turn this trend around!

Re:Socialism

[Anonymous Coward]

well, of course, the transistor. I didn't mention the transistor because it goes without saying. But other than the transistor (and the aqueduct), what have we ever gotten out of government funded research?

There is an answer!

[cbraescu1]

Name an industry that can produce 1 million new, high-paying jobs over the next three years

Government!

Re:Surprising

[anagama]

For example, I cite the power of extractive and fossil energy interests in discouraging broad funding of research in distributed and/or alternative energy sources over the last 40 years.

Also, you don't seem to understand the meaning of the word "cite". ... When you "cite" something, usually it means you're going to provide a reference of some kind.

Let me introduce you to the concept of eloquence (2nd half of def 2). Very few pedants have any hope of eloquence. That said, GP did a nice job creatively making his point while using the word "cite" in a pedantically pure manner (see def 4). You simply are not fully aware of what "cite" means.

As for this post -- I'm being pedantic myself so do not look for it to be interesting or eloquent. This post is snarky -- something we have enough of in the world as it is, but I am posting it anyway because I don't have mod points to mod GP up ... he's at +5 anyway.