Economics of technological innovation
The economics of technological innovation describes the financial structures, patent systems, venture capital networks, and corporate strategies that determine which technologies reach the commercial market — and, according to critics, which are systematically suppressed through secrecy orders, corporate acquisition and shelving, and national security classifications.
Patent system and secrecy orders
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) processes patent applications under a system that includes a national security review, during which military and intelligence agencies can impose secrecy orders under the Invention Secrecy Act of 1951. Dr. Tom Valone, who worked at the USPTO for 20 years, described the process: patent applications flagged by agencies including the Air Force, Army, DOD, and DIA are reviewed and, if classified, "placed in the vault" — a secure facility where they remain unavailable to the public for approximately 50 years.
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) publishes annual reports documenting the number and categories of patents held under secrecy orders, with the total approaching 6,000 as of the early 2020s. Valone noted that the patent holder receives no compensation and is prohibited from discussing or commercializing the invention — "you can't talk to anybody about it. You're under the order of a number of conditions that you have to even report who you talk to."
Suppressed technology categories
Dr. Michael Salla and Valone identified the primary categories of suppressed patents as alternative energy sources and advanced propulsion technologies. Steven Greer has described the Invention Secrecy Act as a key mechanism through which the military-industrial complex prevents technologies derived from exotic sources — including alleged reverse-engineered non-human craft — from reaching the civilian market.
Venture capital and corporate capture
The venture capital system creates additional gatekeeping, as technologies that threaten established industries — particularly the fossil fuel and pharmaceutical industries — face difficulty securing investment. Dan Willis, a Disclosure Project witness, described instances in which inventors of free energy devices were bought out, threatened, or had their work classified after demonstrating functional prototypes.
DARPA and technology transfer
DARPA functions as a bridge between military research and commercial technology, having been involved in the creation of the Internet (through ARPANET), GPS, and numerous other technologies that were developed for military purposes before being released for civilian use. Critics argue that this model means the most consequential technologies are developed in classified environments and released to the public only when the military-intelligence establishment determines it is strategically advantageous to do so.
Connection to exotic technology
Main article:
Technology suppression
The economics of technological innovation intersect directly with the UFO cover-up through allegations that reverse-engineering programs operating within USAPs have produced breakthroughs in energy, propulsion, and materials science that remain classified. Salla has discussed how suppressed ET technologies are allegedly being selectively released through channels that maintain corporate and military control over their commercialization.
The PBD Podcast interview with Dr. Steven Greer covering the Invention Secrecy Act, suppressed technologies, and super elites is also available on YouTube.
See also
- Economics of fundamental and applied scientific and biomedical research
- Economics of the medical industry