I'm definitely thinking about some version of expected return in the sense of if this initiative were successful, what is the potential upside and then what is the probability of success? There was a famous baseball coach whose name I'm forgetting, but he used to tell his players hit him where they ate. And the National Nanotechnology Initiative was a great example of that because there was no one on the other side. In 1999 and 2000, virtually no one in the US government outside of the science agencies knew what nanoscale science and engineering was. So it is possible to make more progress if you're not in an area that is heavily contested.
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What is a "policy entrepreneur"? Can people become policy entrepreneurs if they're not already a political office holder? Aside from literally speaking to the POTUS, what are some ways that policy entrepreneurs can make progress on their goals? Why is it so hard for some people to articulate actionable plans that would accomplish their goals? What is market shaping? Why do some government departments have no budget for R&D?
Tom Kalil is Chief Innovation Officer at Schmidt Futures. In this role, Tom leads initiatives to harness technology for societal challenges, improve science policy, and identify and pursue 21st century moonshots. Prior to Schmidt Futures, Tom served in the White House for two Presidents (Obama and Clinton), helping to design and launch national science and technology initiatives in areas such as nanotechnology, the BRAIN initiative, data science, materials by design, robotics, commercial space, high-speed networks, access to capital for startups, high-skill immigration, STEM education, learning technology, startup ecosystems, and the federal use of incentive prizes. Follow him on Twitter at @tkalil2050.
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