Public procurement and disruptive technologies: Darpa’s role in the development of mrna vaccines

• Autores: Daniel Schoeni
• Localización: Revista Escuela Jacobea de Posgrado, ISSN-e 2007-3798, Nº. 24, 2023, págs. 1-16
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Contratación pública y tecnologías disruptivas: el papel de DARPA en el desarrollo de vacunas de ARNm
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Ejemplar
• Resumen
  • español

    Uno de los propósitos clave del Departamento de Defensa de los Estados Unidos (DoD) es proporcionar capacidades para ganar la guerra a soldados, marineros, infantes de marina, aviadores y guardianes. Debido a la naturaleza única de la adquisición de defensa, esto requiere una constante innovación. Desde la década de 1950, cuando la tecnología militar se volvió demasiado sofisticada para los arsenales gubernamentales, el DoD ha confiado principalmente en contratistas del sector privado altamente especializados. Sin embargo, para ciertas inversiones en ciencia básica o para sortear fallas del mercado, el DoD destina recursos a sus propios esfuerzos de investigación y desarrollo. La institución gubernamental más famosa de estas es la Agencia de Proyectos de Investigación Avanzada de Defensa (DARPA), cuyas invenciones han incluido aviones furtivos, sistemas de posicionamiento global e internet. Sin embargo, como ocurre en la mayoría de los países, una gran parte de la innovación se queda en el sector privado. Este artículo explora lo que hace excepcional a DARPA, examinando su papel en el desarrollo de tecnologías de ARNm utilizadas posteriormente para desarrollar vacunas contra el COVID-19. Y advierte que DARPA puede no ser escalable.

  • English

    One of the key purposes of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is to deliver war-winning capabilities to soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardians.

    Because of the unique nature of defense procurement, this requires constant innovation.

    Since the 1950s, when military technology became too sophisticated for government arsenals, the DoD has primarily relied on highly specialized defense contractors in the private sector. However, for certain investments in basic science or to circumvent market failures, the DoD devotes resources to its own research and development efforts. The most famous of these government institutions is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), whose inventions have included stealth aircraft, global positioning systems, and the internet. Nevertheless, as in most countries, most innovation occurs in the private sector. This article explores what makes DARPA exceptional, examining its role in the development of mRNA technologies later used to develop COVID-19 vaccines. And it cautions that DARPA may not be scalable

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