[ksen]

How much of this innovation is because of government spending on basic research?

[SomeCallMeTim]

How much of this innovation is because of government spending on basic research?

I don't know... My belief is: Very Little.

Most government research money I see gifted to universities is politically driven and wasteful.

People with a profit motive spend their money more wisely.

[Lou L]

How much of this innovation is because of government spending on basic research?

Nonsense. People like you argue that the NIH is some savvy investor, facilitating pivotal research because no other private entity can. Private pharmaceutical companies, for example, foot a significant amount of the costs of drug development, and they do it in a much more cost-effective way.