RTI uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By clicking “accept” on this website, you opt in and you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about how RTI uses cookies and how to manage them please view our Privacy Policy here. You can “opt out” or change your mind by visiting: http://optout.aboutads.info/. Click “accept” to agree.
Knowledge spillovers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Hayter, C. S., Link, A. N., & O'Connor, A. C. (2025). Public supported R&D: Knowledge spillovers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Science and Public Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scaf033
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is the second largest Institute within the U.S. National Institutes of Health. In this article, we quantify knowledge spillovers from NIAID-funded research conducted by small firms. The spillover metric considered is scientific publications, and we find that the annual rate of publications has been increasing since the mid-1950s. Using a sampling population of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) firms funded through NIAID, we calculate an annual growth rate of 28.5 per cent. We also find that a key covariate with annual scientific publication counts is the number of employees within the funded firm. From a policy perspective, institutionalizing incentives for NIAID SBIR-funded firms to publish will enhance the rate of scientific knowledge flowing into society.
RTI shares its evidence-based research - through peer-reviewed publications and media - to ensure that it is accessible for others to build on, in line with our mission and scientific standards.