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Public Support for Research in Artificial Intelligence: A Descriptive Study of U.S. Department of Defense SBIR Projects

Author

Listed:
  • Chowdhury, Farhat

    (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics)

  • Link, Albert

    (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics)

  • van Hasselt, Martijn

    (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics)

Abstract

We describe public support for AI research in small firms using data from U.S. Department of Defense-funded SBIR projects. Ours is the first collection of firm-level project information on publicly funded R&D investments in AI. We find that the likelihood of an SBIR funded research project being focused on AI is greater the larger the amount of the SBIR award. AI-focused research projects are associated with a 7.6 percent increase in average award amounts. We also find suggestive evidence that the likelihood of an SBIR project being AI-focused is greater in smaller-sized firms. Finally, we find that SBIR-funded AI research is more likely to occur in states with complementary university research resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Chowdhury, Farhat & Link, Albert & van Hasselt, Martijn, 2022. "Public Support for Research in Artificial Intelligence: A Descriptive Study of U.S. Department of Defense SBIR Projects," UNCG Economics Working Papers 22-3, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:uncgec:2022_003
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    4. Hardin, John W. & Kaiser, David J. & Link, Albert N., 2020. "Public Support of Private Innovation: An Initial Assessment of the North Carolina SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds Program," Annals of Science and Technology Policy, now publishers, vol. 4(1), pages 1-79, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sven Wolff & Christina Guenther & Petra Moog & David B. Audretsch, 2023. "The geography of the continuum of entrepreneurship activities—a first glance based on German data," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1243-1273, August.
    2. Alessandra Colombelli & Elettra D’Amico & Emilio Paolucci, 2023. "When computer science is not enough: universities knowledge specializations behind artificial intelligence startups in Italy," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 1599-1627, October.
    3. Goel, Rajeev K. & Nelson, Michael A., 2023. "Awareness of artificial intelligence: Diffusion of information about AI versus ChatGPT in the United States," Kiel Working Papers 2259, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Artificial intelligence; machine learning; Department of Defense; Small Business Innovation Research program; agglomeration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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