Science Policy Glossary

Research directed toward solving specific practical problems or developing particular technologies.

Research driven by curiosity and the pursuit of fundamental knowledge without a specific practical application in mind.

U.S. legislation (1980) permitting universities to retain intellectual property from federally funded research to encourage commercialization.

The paradox that a technology's impacts are hard to predict early on but difficult to control once the technology is entrenched.

Research with potential for both beneficial and harmful applications, raising governance and security concerns.

An approach to policymaking that uses rigorous scientific evidence and data to design and evaluate policies.

Legal rights protecting creations of the mind, including patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, relevant to commercializing research.

A model positing a sequential path from basic research to applied research to development to commercialization.

A policy approach directing research toward solving specific societal challenges through coordinated public and private investment.

U.S. federal agency (est. 1950) that funds basic research and education across non-medical scientific and engineering disciplines.

A movement promoting transparency in research through open access publishing, open data, and collaborative tools.

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, an advisory body providing science and technology guidance to the U.S. President.

Evaluation of scientific work by independent experts to ensure quality, rigor, and significance in both publications and grant funding.

Government decisions about funding, organizing, and regulating scientific research and institutions.

A policy approach requiring protective action when a potential risk is identified, even without full scientific certainty.

Total expenditure on research and development by governments, businesses, and institutions, often measured as a percentage of GDP.

Scientific methods and standards used by agencies to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and environmental impact of products and technologies.

A framework ensuring that research and innovation are transparent, inclusive, and responsive to societal needs and ethics.

The systematic process of evaluating the potential risks associated with a technology, substance, or action to inform policy decisions.

The process by which scientific expertise is communicated to policymakers through advisory bodies, reports, and consultations.

The use of scientific collaboration to strengthen international relations and address shared global challenges.

The use of scientific knowledge and expertise to inform and improve policy decisions across various domains.

Systematic evaluation of potential impacts, risks, and benefits of new technologies to inform policy before widespread adoption.

The process of moving scientific discoveries and innovations from research institutions to commercial applications and the marketplace.

American engineer who authored 'Science, The Endless Frontier' (1945), laying the foundation for modern U.S. federal science policy and the creation of the NSF.