In a somewhat unusual action, the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation, today issued a policy brief calling for swift dramatic action to energize US science. “It is time for new approaches that embrace a dramatically changed science and technology landscape to secure U.S. leadership and deliver the benefits of scientific and technological progress to all Americans,” declares the brief.

“I’m dedicating my term as Chair of the National Science Board to considering how we as a nation can adapt to and seize the potential of the current landscape,” says Darío Gil, who is also senior vice president and director of research at IBM. “Starting this week, when we’re bringing together government, academic, and philanthropic leaders for a panel discussion, the Board will be convening cross-sectoral leaders to explore and advance ideas for new and necessary models.”

NSB says three foundational trends have changed the U.S. S&E landscape and urgently require a national response. See figures below.

As shown above, the brief lays out three fundamental changes in the S&T landscape:

1)     Federal investment is the foundation, but business funds the majority of U.S. R&D

• Since 1980, business has funded the largest share of U.S. Research and Development (R&D) and over the last decade, has dramatically accelerated in growth.
• Business has shifted from being primarily a beneficiary of investment to being a driver in its own right.
• Business R&D drove U.S. R&D to 3.5% of GDP in 2021. However, while this should be celebrated, R&D is not a substitute for federal R&D. Only the federal government can invest across all fields, across the nation, at scale, and over sufficiently long-time horizons. Business and federal R&D are complementary.

2)     The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is our biggest competitor and collaborator

• U.S. leadership in S&T is being challenged by China’s rising investment in S&T.
• China has now surpassed the U.S. in research publications, patents (including in AI), in knowledge-and technology-intensive manufacturing, and in awarding PhDs in STEM.
• China is a formidable competitor in technology areas critical for national security, such as AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
• China is also the U.S.’ largest collaborator in published research, including in AI.

3)     The number of jobs requiring STEM skills continues to rapidly rise

• The U.S. is failing to adequately educate and nurture its domestic students and workers.
• Among advanced economies, U.S. K-12 students have long been merely “middle of the pack” in STEM performance – and the pandemic erased the gains that U.S. students made in mathematics proficiency in the past 20 years.
• The U.S. is a beacon for STEM talent from around the globe. The share of U.S. S&E doctorate-level workers who are foreign-born has grown from 27% in 1993 to 43% in 2021.
• Foreign talent is a key strength but also a risk. Our dependency is at an all-time high – especially in critical and emerging technology areas – but the U.S. is not offering adequate ways to retain talent that wants to stay and work in the U.S.

In his first address as NSB Chair this week, Gil will give a presentation on the changed science and technology landscape, followed by National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Panchanathan, who will give examples of how NSF is responding to these changes. Leaders in government, philanthropy, and academia will then join the Board for a panel discussion on the changes they’ve seen in their respective sectors and identify areas that will require new cross-sector collaborations. Gil will moderate the discussion and offer an industry perspective.

It’s an unusual act for NSB to issue such a dramatic brief. Whether it is meaningful or posturing isn’t clear and issuing it in the dead of summer may elicit a silent thud rather than big boom of attention. Stay tuned

Link to policy brief, https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=309993&org=NSB&from=news