The materials genome initiative

The high-tech economy has a set of infrastructures that is essential for its long-term growth. Collectively, this “technology infrastructure” embodies a diverse and technologically intensive set of complex data, research and production methods, and marketing tools (such as product acceptance testing protocols). Its size, diversity and substantial economic impact makes this varied infrastructure one of the four major asset categories that comprise the high-tech economy and is increasingly critical to the effectiveness of the other three classes of assets. Two basic policy concerns with respect to technology infrastructure are (1) developing its technical content (“infratechnologies”) that is tailored to the needs of specific industry groups, and (2) enabling this infrastructure’s dissemination and effective utilization through issuance of standards/regulations for compliance and technical assistance for effective utilization. The Materials Genome Initiative (MGI) is described as a case study addressing these concerns and consequent economic impact. It is a broad collection of advanced materials databases, computer modelling techniques, measurement and testing protocols, and performance testing methods that are essential assets for developing technologically complex materials that drive innovation in multiple downstream industries. The MGI economic impact analysis reviewed here demonstrates the huge and hence critically important growth policy role played by high-tech infrastructure.