Less than a week after the 2016 U.S. elections, Atkinson drew on his expertise in science and innovation policy to highlight some of the likely policy priorities for the incoming administration and assess the effects of potential policy changes on the U.S. innovation ecosystem.

Atkinson said that many of the specific policy priorities of the Trump Administration relevant to innovation were uncertain at this point, but identified several potential initiatives that could benefit U.S. innovation, as well as some that could hinder innovation efforts. 

Potential pro-innovation activities highlighte by Atkinson included corporate tax reform, efforts to combat foreign “innovation mercantilism,” and reduced regulation in some sectors. Potential policy initiatives highlighted as likely to hinder U.S. innovation and competitiveness included reduced immigration of skilled STEM workers, efforts to weaken the encryption used by U.S. companies, and reductions in federal research funding and support for STEM education efforts.