The hottest R&D Substack posts right now

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“Overachievement”: Xiaomi's Decade-Long Chip Development Journey

Interconnected • 323 implied HN points • 25 May 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Tech industry R&D Innovation
  1. Xiaomi has been working for over a decade to develop its own chips, overcoming past failures to launch their new Xring O1 chip. This shows their commitment to compete in the high-end smartphone market.
  2. The company learned from its earlier struggles and made smart changes, like bringing chip development in-house to improve teamwork and communication. This helped them build a stronger, more focused chip-making team.
  3. Despite their successes, Xiaomi faces significant challenges ahead, notably the need to sell enough phones equipped with their new chip to make the investment worthwhile. They are determined to continue improving and innovating in this area.

May 2025 Updates

New Things Under the Sun • 160 implied HN points • 27 May 25
🔬 Science Research Innovation R&D Economics Technology
  1. Recent studies show that government funding for research and development (R&D) yields high returns. Estimates suggest that every dollar spent on non-defense government R&D could generate benefits worth up to 210%.
  2. The composition of R&D funding has changed over the years. While support for applied research has dropped, funding for basic research has remained stable as a fraction of GDP.
  3. A significant research paper claiming that AI boosts innovation was retracted due to issues with the data and its credibility. This highlights the need for careful evaluation of research, especially when it could have major implications.

Modern Meditations: Caleb Watney

The Generalist • 500 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Startups R&D Biotechnology Governance
  1. We need to improve government hiring processes to attract good talent. Many talented people are turned off by low pay and slow bureaucratic procedures.
  2. Public investment in scientific research can lead to breakthroughs that the private market often ignores. Funding areas like disease research or innovative technologies can yield unexpected benefits for society.
  3. Understanding and improving how government works is essential. There are many effective ways to enhance efficiency that are often overlooked but can significantly help society.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #27

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Nuclear Energy Innovation R&D
  1. AI is changing research and development by making it faster and cheaper. It helps in designing products quickly and may even improve their performance significantly.
  2. Neuralink is working on a new study that allows people to control robotic arms using only their thoughts. This could really help those who have disabilities.
  3. A startup called Kairos Power is building safer nuclear reactors that use molten salt instead of water. This new technology aims to provide clean energy by 2030.

Innovation Job Market Papers 2024 (3/3)

New Things Under the Sun • 192 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
💼 Business Innovation Economics R&D Entrepreneurship Globalization Technology
  1. Many new PhD researchers are studying innovation topics in their job market papers. These papers are valuable for understanding current trends in technology and business.
  2. Some research focuses on how companies adapt their innovation strategies in response to challenges like climate change and competition. This shows that innovation is not just about new ideas but also about practical responses to real-world issues.
  3. There is growing interest in how digital platforms influence entrepreneurship. These platforms can help small businesses thrive and increase diversity in the market, which benefits consumers.
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Restoring Japan's Leadership In Innovation, Part I

Japan Economy Watch • 379 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
💼 Business Innovation Startup R&D Collaboration Financing
  1. Open innovation is crucial for technological advancement, emphasizing the need for collaboration between large companies and startups to succeed in rapidly changing industries.
  2. Japan lags behind in open innovation, with most R&D conducted in-house, leading to a decline in global competitiveness in industries like electronics.
  3. The immobility of star scientists in Japan, due to factors like lifetime employment systems and lack of mobility, hinders the growth of innovative startups and limits the potential for successful spin-offs.

Big firms have different incentives

New Things Under the Sun • 192 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
💼 Business Innovation R&D Incentives Productivity
  1. Large firms conduct R&D at the same rate as small firms, but they may focus more on process innovations rather than product innovations.
  2. The cost spreading advantage incentivizes larger firms to focus on process innovation, spreading costs over multiple products.
  3. Larger firms may be less inclined to engage in product innovation due to the replacement effect, potentially competing against their own existing products.

How Artificial Intelligence Will Change the Chemical Industry

The Polymerist • 116 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Chemical Industry Software Data Management R&D
  1. Companies in the chemical industry can benefit from AI tools to improve efficiency and profitability.
  2. AI tools are becoming more accessible for functions like customer relationship management, inventory management, and data organization.
  3. While AI won't replace R&D functions, it can significantly enhance productivity and help companies stay competitive in specialized chemical sectors.

A Note on the Changing Faces of (D)ARPA

FreakTakes • 13 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Military Tech R&D Computing Innovation History
  1. DARPA has gone through many changes over the years due to political and regulatory shifts, which have affected how it operates. Understanding the political climate is essential for grasping DARPA's past successes.
  2. The level of freedom for project managers (PMs) varies depending on whether project ideas come from office directors or the PMs themselves. This affects how projects are pursued and the creative input allowed.
  3. The expected timelines for projects and their military focus play a significant role in what gets funded. Sometimes projects are pushed for quick results, while other times there’s room for more exploratory research.

How to Impede Technological Progress

New Things Under the Sun • 144 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Policy Research Impact R&D
  1. Policy levers to slow technological progress can be classified into reverse push and pull policies
  2. Reverse push policies raise the costs of research, like restrictions on federal funding and safety regulations impacting chemistry labs
  3. Reverse pull policies reduce profitability of certain tech innovations, like carbon taxes and liability exposure, impacting R&D differently based on company size and innovation potential

The Mathematics of Scale [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 07 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Economics Tech Solutions Software Engineering Data handling R&D
  1. Economies of scale mean costs decrease as production increases, benefitting companies by spreading costs over more goods.
  2. Tech and software engineering benefit greatly from scaling and replication, allowing for efficient large-scale operations.
  3. To leverage the principles of scale for career growth, understand how your solutions fit into the big picture and build a strong foundational knowledge across different areas.