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DARPA Quotes

Bold lines on innovation, risk, and research

These quotes come from entrepreneurs and engineers reflecting on how government-backed research competitions and agencies have driven major technological breakthroughs, from early self-driving car prototypes to the roots of the modern internet. There's a shared thread of ambition here, tracing bold ideas back to public investment in basic research. For more on innovation and ambition, see our Bobby Darin quotes.

Even as a college professor at Carnegie Mellon and Stanford, I saw myself as an entrepreneur, and I went out, took risks, and tried to invent new things, such as participating in the DARPA Grand Challenge and working on self-driving...

Quotes by Sebastian Thrun

From NASA putting a man on the moon to DARPA developing what later became the Internet, the U.S. government, through a host of different public agencies, has provided direct financing not only of basic research but also public venture capital;...

Quotes by Jens Martin Skibsted

In 2003, my mom actually gave me a call, which is funny because she works at the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, and let me know that there's a cool competition with robots across the desert. And I thought this...

Quotes by Anthony Levandowski

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these DARPA quotes generally discuss?
They focus on how publicly funded research competitions and agencies have contributed to major technological advances like autonomous vehicles and the internet.
Are these quotes from scientists or entrepreneurs?
Mostly entrepreneurs and academics who took part in or studied research competitions connected to the agency.
Do these quotes mention specific historical achievements?
Yes, they reference milestones such as the moon landing and the early development of internet technology.
Who might find this collection interesting?
Readers interested in technology history, innovation policy, or the origins of major inventions.
Is there more innovation-related content on this site?
You can browse Boo Weekley quotes for another individual collection.

Explore further with our Fifteen quotes page.