[The role of government in the control of technology research and development]

It is obvious that government cannot afford to refuse support to precommercial general research and development because they would thus deprive their national industry of a very important source. The new administration of President Clinton emphasized particularly the role of the government in the control of technological research and development. The United States wil in future not rely on the action of market forces in the commercialization of new innovating technologies and shy away from their responsibility. In a recent document Technology for America's Economic Growth President Clinton said: "Investing in technology is investing into America's future. The traditional support of basic science and defence-oriented research only was a strategy suited for previous generations, but not for coping with the complicated problems of today. Therefore we must focus attention on these new and difficult tasks, being aware that the Government can play a key role in the help given to private firms with their innovation."