PDF Of Document Number Nsbct012920.pdf

Diane Souvaine, PhD, Chair of the National Science Board, testified before the Committee on Science, Space, & Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, on "Losing Ground: U.S. Competitiveness in Critical Technologies." She emphasized that advancements in science and technology have driven economic growth, national security, and transformed Americans' daily lives. The U.S. preeminence in science and technology is due to sustained, bipartisan commitment to investing in basic research, which has established a knowledge ecosystem and innovation-driving partnership among academia, government, and the private sector.

The National Science Board's Science & Engineering Indicators 2020 report highlights the global context, where science and engineering have become a worldwide enterprise with more players, opportunities, and interdependence. While the U.S. remains a leading player, other countries, particularly China, have increased their research and development investments, with China's R&D expenditures growing dramatically.

The U.S. spending on R&D has grown modestly, with the business sector being the largest funder, but the global share of R&D has declined from 37% to 25% since 2000. China is expected to soon become the world's largest R&D performer, with its R&D investments accounting for almost one-third of the total global growth since 2000.

Despite this, the U.S. maintains a significant advantage in basic research, investing $92 billion in 2017, compared to China's $27 billion. The business sector is also the largest funder of basic and applied research, with industry's commitment to basic and applied research being a strength for the U.S. S&E ecosystem. Souvaine emphasized the importance of renewing commitment to strengthen the U.S. knowledge ecosystem and ensuring the country is not technologically surprised in critical technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence.