Information versus Money

Which is more valuable?

According to the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, a large federal database of research will be more effective at advancing commercialization that grants bridging the gap between lab and market.

In an interview with MIT Technology Review, the Secretary says that venture capitalists will bridge the gap with early-stage funding once they understand the implications of the research from information provided by researchers.

A concern may be that the research emerging from universities:
1. Is too early stage;
2. Requires a large amount of funding with uncertain payoffs in the very long term
to attract venture capital and angel investors.

Another concern: will venture capitalists have time to review an extensive database of hundreds of researchers?