Jane Jacobs observed that the purpose of economic life is us. Perhaps that goes as well for holidays–set aside for a moment the organized religion element, if you would–the purpose of Christmas, in a large sense, is us. The purpose of debating innovation policy, too, in its strange little way, is also us.
So here in a large sense is a “Merry Christmas” to everyone who cares enough about research enterprise to discuss it–for all our differences, our concern, through it all, is us. That’s a good starting point.