Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11) The economics of discovery, with Ben Reinhardt
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Dec 4, 2025 Ben Reinhardt, Founder of Speculative Technologies and an expert in science funding, joins the discussion to dissect the flaws in the U.S. science funding structure. He critiques the antiquated categories of basic, applied, and development research, explaining how they often misrepresent scientific workflows. Reinhardt highlights the overlapping nature of projects like semiconductors and emphasizes the crucial role of process knowledge in successful experiments. He also challenges the efficiency of university tech transfer offices and advocates for innovative funding models that empower researchers.
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Research Taxonomy Misleads Funding
- The legal taxonomy of basic, applied, and development research misrepresents how science actually progresses.
- Semiconductors show research loops where basic and applied work intertwine and don't fit neat buckets.
Process Knowledge Is Crucial
- Process knowledge often prevents replication even when papers exist.
- Ben Reinhardt doubts feeding papers alone into AI will automate away hands-on scientific craft.
Distinguish Development From Pre‑Commercial Research
- Recognize where research funding flows: most public and private R&D goes to development, not basic science.
- Adjust expectations and policies to target pre-commercial research gaps rather than celebrating headline R&D totals.