You need to know the definition and incentive system for:

1. Discovery
2. Invention
3. Innovation

You need to know the institutional development promoting these activities

1. Public education
2. Research university
3. Corporate R & D (research and development)
4. NSF: Public funding basic research and applied research by Government Departments
5. Startups
6. Venture Capital
7. Research consortia: MCC
8. Incubators

For more information go to Discovery, Invention and Innovation