Towards quantification of the role of materials innovation in overall technological development

Executive Summary This report develops a method for quantitatively assessing the role of materials innovation in overall technological development. The report demonstrates the method for one specific case and defines the key requirements to use it in a number of other cases. The new method involves the comparative examination of overall technical capability metrics with performance metrics at more detailed levels of progress where materials and process innovation dominates the progress. This analysis is supplemented by exploration of the specific technical capabilities utilized in technological development areas of interest.