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canopic jug [soylentnews.org] writes:

The 1517 Fund has an article exploring about why Bell Labs worked so well [substack.com], and what is lacking in today's society to recreate such a research environment:

There have been non-profit and corporate giants with larger war chests than Ma Bell. AT&T started Bell Labs when its revenue was under $13 B (current USD). During the great depression, when Mervin Kelly laid the foundation for the lab, AT&T's revenue was $22 B (current USD).

Inflation adjusted, Google has made more than AT&T did at Bell Labs' start since 2006. Microsoft, 1996. Apple, 1992.

Each has invested in research. None have a Bell Labs.

Academia's worse. Scientists at the height of their careers spend more time writing grants than doing research. Between 1975 and 2005, the amount of time scientists at top tier universities spent on research declined by 20%. Time spent on paperwork increased by 100%. To quote the study, "experienced secular decline in research time, on the order of 10h per week." 2

[...] Reportedly, Kelly and others would hand people problems and then check in a few years later.3 Most founders and executives I know balk at this idea. After all, "what's stopping someone from just slacking off?" Kelly would contend that's the wrong question to ask. The right question is, "Why would you expect information theory from someone who needs a babysitter?"

Micromanagement and quantification also take their toll.

Previously:
(2024) The Incredible Story Behind the First Transistor Radio [soylentnews.org]
(2024) Is It Possible to Recreate Bell Labs? [soylentnews.org]
(2022) Unix History: A Mighty Origin Story [soylentnews.org]
(2019) Vintage Computer Federation East 2019 -- Brian Kernighan Interviews Ken Thompson [soylentnews.org]
(2017) US Companies are Investing Less in Science [soylentnews.org]

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