A critical component of the future of the American economy is the ability for U.S. companies to be innovative, consistently and efficiently, in their approach to product and service development and to be able to benefit from a steady stream of new scientific discoveries. The National Science Foundation has the opportunity to play a key role in the support of this approach by funding fundamental research in the science of innovation and discovery. The interface between cognitive psychology, social psychology and engineering provides a natural and as yet minimally explored environment to deeply understand the theory, processes and mechanisms of innovation and their influence on the design, creation, and discovery processes. 

Full report:  http://research.latech.edu/files/documents/final_report_from_the_nsf_innovation_&_discovery_workshop.pdf