Supporters say changing Small Business Innovation Research rules to give venture capitalists (and their companies) access to more government funds will accelerate a national economic resurgence. Plus, they point out that many venture companies are small operations far from the perception of a nine-figure equity fund. But other small businesses, include life-science companies, see the changes as a potential death knell to small business funding and the spirit of innovation.

A report authored by Battelle shows that American students are focused enough on biotech and other sciences. But wWhat’s illuminating, though, is how much has been tried to increase interest in science, the evidence of what is going right, what’s worth scrapping and what’s worth paying for.