The 2005 Council on Competitiveness report, Innovate America, notes that, "Innovation will be the single most important factor in determining America's success through the 21st century," and further asserts that the acceleration of innovation is critical for the United States to maintain its competitive edge in the world economy. Advanced measurement capabilities form a key component of the nation's innovation infrastructure. Advanced tools and measurements are required to innovate - to design and incorporate new or better features into next-generation products and processes necessary for the United States to compete effectively and stay ahead in the global marketplace. Not only are tools/measurements required for today's innovation - but they are required in anticipation of future competitive innovation products.
An ecosystem is the natural balance of elements in a particular environment in relation to each other...and that's a useful way to think about the USMS. If the USMS were part of a living ecosystem, one possible model is that of a pyramid.
The base of this particular ecosystem is the innovation infrastructure. This infrastructure must fully support the measurement and technology solutions directly above it, as well as the commercial products built based on them. Not only must the foundation be solid, but it must also be in place in advance of any of the components above. Our innovation infrastructure is thus in a critical position - when it exists in a form that supports competitive products, it provides for a good economy.
The Measurement Knowledge Hub will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the USMS in developing and deploying measurement solutions to ensure a healthy innovation ecosystem.
Technological Innovation and Measurement Innovation
Technological innovation is considered to be either a process or a physical entity. As a process, technological innovation is that part of the overall innovation process relating to the introduction into the marketplace of new technology. As a physical entity, technological innovation is the new technology itself. Technological innovation is considered to occur in four stages.
If the measurement technology necessary for a technology innovation stage does not exist, a measurement innovation is needed. Because a measurement innovation is itself a technological innovation, the measurement innovation process is the same as that for the technological innovation. It involves successively, applied research, production, market, and end use of the new measurement technology.
