This study assesses the efficacy of the Small Business Innovation Research Program on innovation, employment, and business formation in small and nonmetropolitan counties. The primary goal is to further understand rural innovation and growth process through government intervention on small business development. Using panel data and employing fixed-effect models, the results suggest that, compared with large metropolitan counties, the Small Business Innovation Research Program may not be an effective program to generate employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in small and nonmetropolitan regions, but it could be a viable source to improve rural innovation outcome. The geographical effects of the program are heterogeneous across implementation years and award agencies. This study contributes to the innovation policy agenda in small and nonmetropolitan regions, which is an important and emerging topic in the field.

本研究评估了小企业创新研究计划对小县和非大城市县的创新、就业和企业形成的功效。主要目标是通过政府对小企业发展的干预，进一步了解农村创新和增长过程。使用面板数据和固定效应模型，结果表明，与大城市县相比，小企业创新研究计划可能不是在小城市和非大都市地区创造就业和创业机会的有效计划，但它可能是一个改善农村创新成果的可行来源。该计划的地理影响因实施年份和奖励机构而异。