Doctoral Dissertation Research in Science of Science and Innovation Policy: How Do Prizes Induce Innovation? Learning from the Google Lunar X-Prize

本项目研究技术奖励及其诱导创新的手段。具体而言，该项目审查了三个航空航天奖竞赛：（1）安萨里X奖（奖励“首个在两周内两次将可重复使用的载人航天器发射到太空的非政府组织”）（2）诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司月球着陆器挑战赛（NGLLC）（“建造和飞行火箭动力飞行器，模拟月球上的飞行器”），以及（3）正在进行的3000万美元的谷歌月球X奖（GLXP），要求参与者将机器人降落在月球表面。本研究主要从以下三个方面进行研究：（1）获奖者对激励措施的反应;（2）他们如何组织研发活动;（3）在此背景下如何实现技术进步。智力成果：本研究采用了两阶段的研究设计、多个数据来源以及问卷调查、访谈和直接观察等不同的数据收集方法。第一阶段测试的奖励模型，联系激励与进入者的特点，研发组织和技术成果。通过对安萨里X奖和NGLLC竞赛的研究，对该模型进行了检验和修正。第二阶段将修订后的模型应用于正在进行的GLXP和获奖者，由于其实时数据访问和在技术不确定性的竞争环境中探索获奖者的实时感知的可能性，该项目具有特殊的意义。更广泛的影响：该项目有助于创新理论。 此外，它还为推进技术、提高竞争力或通过利用奖励实现其他社会目标的政策带来了重大影响。此外，从这项研究中获得的见解也可以应用于商业，技术管理和工程系统设计等领域。更广泛地说，该项目有助于更好地了解技术政策在经济危机时期的潜力，以及可能促进不同社会群体，包括代表性不足的群体和学生参与竞争环境中培训的激励措施。

This project investigates technology prizes and the means by which they induce innovation. Specifically, the project examines three aerospace prize competitions: (1) the Ansari X-Prize (rewarding "the first non-government organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks") (2) the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge (NGLLC) (for "building and flying a rocket-powered vehicle that simulates the flight of a vehicle on the Moon"), and (3) the ongoing $30 million Google Lunar X-Prize (GLXP), which requires participants to land a robot on the surface of the Moon. This project studies three main aspects of those competitions: (1) how prize entrants respond to incentives, (2) how they organize R&D activities, and (3) how technology advancement takes place in this context.Intellectual Merit: The project combines a two-stage research design, multiple data sources, and different data gathering methods, including questionnaires, interviews and direct observation. The first stage tests a model of prizes that links incentives with entrant characteristics, R&D organization, and technological outcomes. This model is tested and revised by studying the Ansari X-Prize and NGLLC competitions. The second stage applies the revised model to the ongoing GLXP and prize entrants, which has exceptional significance due to its real-time data access and possibility to explore real-time perceptions of prize entrants in a competitive context characterized by technological uncertainty.Broader Impact: The project contributes to innovation theory. In addition, it draws significant implications for policies to advance technology, promote competitiveness, or achieve other societal goals by using prizes. Moreover, insights gained from this research can be also applied across fields like business, technology management, and engineering systems design. More broadly, this project contributes a better understanding on the potential of technology policies in times of economic crisis and the incentives that may promote engagement of different social groups, including underrepresented groups and students, for training within a competitive environment.