Organizing Crisis Innovation: Lessons from World War Ii

Abstract

World War II was one of the most acute emergencies in U.S. history, and the first where mobilizing science and technology was a major part of the government response. The U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) led a major research effort to develop technologies and medical treatments that not only helped win the war, but also transformed civilian life, while laying the foundation for postwar innovation policy. Scholars and policymakers have appealed to the wartime model as a template for other crisis responses, but in broad terms. In this paper we describe in detail how it worked. We do so first through an overview of how OSRD approached several questions that may confront any government-led crisis innovation effort: priority setting, selecting and engaging researchers, a funding mechanism, coordinating research efforts, and translation to practice. Next we present case studies of the radar, atomic fission, penicillin, and malaria research programs, illustrating how the principles applied in specific contexts, but also heterogeneity. From these examples, we synthesize a framework for decision-making. We conclude by discussing other lessons from OSRD, such as what makes crisis innovation policy different, how crisis policy approaches may vary, and also the limits to generalizing from World War II for other crises.