Policy by the Numbers: Copia Institute

Policy by the Numbers

Data for policymaking from Google and friends.

Exploring the world of data-driven innovation

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Mike Masnick is founder of the Copia Institute.In the last few years, there’s obviously been a tremendous explosion in the amount of data floating around. But we’ve also seen an explosion in the efforts to understand and make use of that data in valuable and important ways. The advances, both in terms of the type and amount of data available, combined with advances in computing power to analyze the data, are opening up entirely new fields of innovation that simply weren’t possible before.We recently launched a new think tank, the Copia Institute, focused on looking at the big challenges and opportunities facing the innovation world today. An area we’re deeply interested in is data-driven innovation. To explore this space more thoroughly, the Copia Institute is putting together an ongoing series of case studies on data-driven innovation, with the first few now available in the Copia library.Our first set of case studies includes a look at how the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) helped jumpstart the biotechnology field today. PCR is, in short, a machine for copying DNA, something that was extremely difficult to do (outside of living things copying their own DNA). The discovery was something of an accident: A scientist discovered that certain microbes survived in the high temperatures of the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, previously thought impossible. This resulted in further study that eventually led to the creation of PCR.PCR was patented but licensed widely and generously. It basically became the key to biotech and genetic research in a variety of different areas. The Human Genome Project, for example, was possible only thanks to the widespread availability of PCR. Those involved in the early efforts around PCR were actively looking to share the information and concept rather than lock it up entirely, although there were debates about doing just that. By making sure that the process was widely available, it helped to accelerate innovation in the biotech and genetics fields. And with the recent expiration of the original PCR patents, the technology is even more widespread today, expanding its contribution to the field.Another case study explores the value of the HeLa cells in medical research—cancer research in particular. While the initial discovery of HeLa cells may have come under dubious circumstances, their contribution to medical advancement cannot be overstated. The name of the HeLa cells comes from the patient they were originally taken from, a woman named Henrietta Lacks. Unlike previous human cell samples, HeLa cells continued to grow and thrive after being removed from Henrietta. The cells were made widely available and have contributed to a huge number of medical advancements, including work that has resulted in five Nobel prizes to date.With both PCR and HeLa cells, we saw an important pattern: an early discovery that was shared widely, enabling much greater innovation to flow from proliferation of data. It was the widespread sharing of information and ideas that contributed to many of these key breakthroughs involving biotechnology and health.At the same time, both cases raise certain questions about how to best handle similar developments in the future. There are questions about intellectual property, privacy, information sharing, trade secrecy and much more. At the Copia Institute, we plan to more dive into many of these issues with our continuing series of case studies, as well as through research and events.

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Labels: Case Study , Copia Institute , Data Science , Discovery , English , Innovation , Policy by the Numbers , Research , Science

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The authors of these posts include Googlers and guest bloggers. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent Google’s views. We hope the numbers presented will inspire meaningful conversations and inform policy debates.

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