Public perceptions of the US innovation system: moderate support but compelling need for reform

Abstract Science and innovation policy in the USA often frame publics as the beneficiaries of new technologies, but little research has yet engaged publics on their views of the innovation system (IS)—the combined efforts of government, industry, and universities to produce and promote new technologies. Based on a national public survey (n = 3,010), we identify three dimensions of public judgments about the IS with public policy implications: (1) US publics hold moderate confidence in the IS to produce benefits for them and to respond to public input; (2) they are slightly more critical of innovation-related environmental harm and the accrual of benefits to large corporations; and (3) they strongly support reforms to ensure safe, responsible, and affordable technological innovation. Multivariate regressions indicate variance of judgments by social location and worldviews, finding equity and justice aspects particularly salient in views on the IS. We discuss implications for innovation policy.