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B1: ATP
Helps Bridge Gap Left by Venture Capitalists |
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The Advanced Technology
Program provides cost-shared funding for early stage technology development
with potential to deliver widespread economic benefits that would likely
not be developed because private sector capital is unavailable.
Between invention and innovation,
a funding gap exists
- The United States
system of university- and national lab-based basic research is the best
in the world. These labs are supported in large part by the Federal
government.
- There is a class
of technologies that is not yet developed enough for private sector
investment, but is "too commercial" to sufficiently interest
the universities or national labs, says David Morganthaler, an active
venture capitalist since the late 1960's.
- In the phase between
science-based "inventions" and commercially viable "innovation,"
inefficiencies exist in our capital markets, according to Harvard Professors
Branscomb and Auerswald's new study.(1)
These capital market inefficiencies contribute to the funding gap for
early stage technology development.
Why is there a Funding Gap?
- The technical risks
and market uncertainties associated with early stage technologies are
high, and the inability of innovators to capture the full benefits makes
it an unattractive investment.
- Venture capital
funds raised approximately $43 billion dollars in 2001, up from $2.5
billion in 1991. Most of this money funds the growth of companies (product
development and business development)-very little goes into early-stage
research. (Price Waterhouse Coopers, 2002)
- Venture capitalists
are making larger investments per deal for efficiency reasons:
- Between 1990
and 2001, the average deal size has grown to $16.5 million from $2.5
million.
- It takes about
as much work to identify and monitor a $1 million dollar investment
as it does a $10 million dollar investment.
- Thus, venture
capitalists are not as interested in opportunities requiring lower
dollar amounts.
- According to David
Morganthaler, "when we [venture capitalists] invest in Nobel prize
winning research, we do it by mistake." "[Venture capitalists
should] very rarely invest in enabling technology." Venture capitalists,
he says, should not investment in early-stage, high-risk technology
research.
What does ATP do that Venture
Capitalists do not do?
- As of June 30,
2002, venture capital money remains concentrated in two regions of the
country: (Price Waterhouse Coopers, 2002)
- Northern California
accounted for 35% of venture capital investments.
- The New York/New
England area accounted for 18% of venture capital investments.
- Most venture
capitalists are unwilling to consider an investment more than a
few hours travel away because of the inconvenience of monitoring
it.
- In
contrast, ATP has projects across 43 states.
- Venture capital
is concentrated in one technology area:
- Computer-related
companies received approximately 85% of venture funding in 2001.
- By contrast,
such important areas as industrial/energy companies received only
2% of venture funding.
- In contrast,
a wide variety of important technologies receive ATP funding*:
- Electronics:
25%
- Information technology: 23%
- Materials
and chemistry: 21%
- Biotechnology: 20%
- Manufacturing:
11%
- Venture capitalists
typically provides funding to companies for business development and
commercialization activities.
- In contrast,
ATP funds projects to develop early-stage, high-risk technologies. The
ATP does NOT fund business development or commercialization activities,
but does require that companies plan ahead.
- The "bottom
line" for venture capitalists is the direct monetary return on
their investment.
- In contrast,
the "bottom line" for ATP is broad, national economic benefit.
____________________
* Data are for all projects funded between 1993 and June 2002.
* Updated September 2002.
1.
These findings are taken from Branscomb and Auerswald's forthcoming report
to ATP, Between Invention and Innovation: An Analysis of the Funding for
Early Stage Technology Development.
Date created: September
2001
Last updated:
May 13, 2004
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