Launch more X-Prize type contests
Spur innovation by putting a few million dollar prizes out there. You'll get a lot more than a million dollars of innovative work out of it.
-
austinlorenz commented
"Mars Direct" is an X Prize type program to give incentives for private corporations to reach Mars. Keep that in mind, Mr. Obama.
-
wware commented
X Prizes are a very good idea. Where a clear profit motive is apparent, the private sector can generate worthwhile prize amounts. Government sponsored X Prizes are needed only where there isn't a visible near-term profit motive. Not saying it's a bad idea, just saying that government should delegate to the private sector where it works to do so.
-
Nathan Ritter commented
NASA already is. Look up the COTS project. It's in NASA's interest to outsource innovation, just like the Air Force buys planes from Boeing.