Knowledge Diffusion and U.S. Government Technology Policy

Abstract

Federal involvement in stimulating economic growth through the development and application of technology policy is currently the subject of serious debate. A recession and the recognition that an internationally competitive economy is a prerequisite for the attainment of national goals have fostered a number of technology policy initiatives aimed at improving the economic competitiveness of American industry. This paper suggests that the successful imple mentation of U.S. technology policy will require the adoption of a knowledge diffusion model, the development of user oriented information products and services, and a more "activist" approach on the part of sciltech librarians in the provision of scientific and technical information (STI). These changes will have a dramtic impact on the sciltech library of the future and the preparation of sciltech librarians.\