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After Failing to Commercialize, Universities Learn to Set Ideas Free

After Failing to Commercialize, Universities Learn to Set Ideas Free

In Canada, as in many other countries, there is an expectation that universities, the producers of the research, will advance innovation by starting up companies and by filing and licensing patents.

Under Fire, National Academies Toughen Conflict-of-Interest Policies

Under Fire, National Academies Toughen Conflict-of-Interest Policies

Critics of two reports by the academies have cited potential disclosure problems among study panelists. Now, an official says, the idea of a policy review "has just gained more and more traction."

If Trump Wants to Make America Great Again, the Nation Should Spend More on R&D, Not Less

If Trump Wants to Make America Great Again, the Nation Should Spend More on R&D, Not Less

The president’s proposed cuts to research funding would cripple American innovation. We should be spending more on R&D, not less.

Federal Funding for Basic Research Led to the Gene-Editing Revolution. Don't Cut It.

Federal Funding for Basic Research Led to the Gene-Editing Revolution. Don't Cut It.

Patients in red states and blue states alike benefit from work funded by the National Institutes of Health

More Surgeons Must Start Doing Basic Science

More Surgeons Must Start Doing Basic Science

They say they don't have the time or incentives to do research — and that’s dangerous for translational medicine.

Why Open Source Pharma Is the Path to Both Cheaper and New Medicines

Why Open Source Pharma Is the Path to Both Cheaper and New Medicines

Breaking the cycle in which only highly profitable drugs reach the market is not just the responsibility of government.

They Will Pay as Much Attention to Us as We Do to Ants

They Will Pay as Much Attention to Us as We Do to Ants

Jürgen Schmidhuber says artificial intelligence will surpass humans’ in 2050, enabling robots to have fun, fall in love – and colonise the galaxy.

Are We Creating a World Without Consciousness?

Are We Creating a World Without Consciousness?

Philosopher and cognitive scientist David Chalmers warns about an AI-dominated future world without consciousness at a recent conference on artificial intelligence that also included Elon Musk, Ray Kurzweil, Sam Harris, Demis Hassabis and others.

Why ‘Disruption’ Isn’t What You Really Mean

Why ‘Disruption’ Isn’t What You Really Mean

Feeling a bit queasy these days? Small wonder. We are awash in disruption. Clearly, the d-word has long since become a trend in its own right.

Track How Technology Is Transforming Work

Track How Technology Is Transforming Work

Without data on how artificial intelligence is affecting jobs, policymakers will fly blind into the next industrial revolution, say Tom Mitchell and Erik Brynjolfsson.

How A Budget Squeeze Can Lead To Sloppy Science And Even Cheating

How A Budget Squeeze Can Lead To Sloppy Science And Even Cheating

The hypercompetitive world of biomedical research occasionally drives scientists to cheat. More often, scientists make decisions that undercut their results. That can lead colleagues astray.