Balancing National Strategy and Original Exploration in the Research and Development of Cutting-edge Technologies: A Case Study of the U.S. National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute

前沿技术研发如何平衡国家战略与原创探索—以美国国家人工智能研究所为例

Abstract

Cutting-edge technologies, epitomized by artificial intelligence, embody characteristics of high risk and high investment. In the development process, a tension arises between the “certain” national strategy and the “uncertain” original exploration. Establishing an innovative organizational model guided by national mission objectives and leveraging the effectiveness of innovation networks is crucial for achieving technological self-reliance in China. This study selects the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute of the United States as a case study and identifies the mechanism through which it achieves exploratory research under national guidance as follows: ①At the macro-level, top-level strategic decisions are implemented through departmental coordination, embodying national missions and visions. ②At the meso-level, a “distributed aggregation” innovation network is constructed to expand the participation of innovation actors. ③At the micro-level, an operational mechanism involving multiple stakeholders, such as administrative leadership and industry experts, is implemented to integrate strategic guidance with free exploration. Subsequently, this study tentatively proposes a theoretical framework for Cutting-edge technology organizations that balance national strategy and original exploration, consisting of “top-level design—innovation network—operational mechanism”. And in conjunction with practical applications, we propose a cutting-edge technology innovation organization model suitable for China. This model offers policy insights for the development of key common technology and future technology.