It only took an economic crisis of epic proportions, but governments around the world are finally realizing that startups play a critical role in both innovation and job creation and are trying to identify policies that support them.

The Innovation Policy Lab researches the role of government polices on the environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. The goal is to identify the right set of incentives and policies to enable startups to create jobs, economic growth, and life-saving innovations. We work with leading researchers from around the world to examine existing policy environments and how to create the ideal habitat for high-growth, innovation-based startup companies.

Our current work includes:

• an ongoing analysis of the intellectual property systems in developing countries
• a review of the Obama Administration’s Startup America Initiative
• the role of immigration law on startups and innovation