2021-11-23-CED-回到基础研究_增强美国竞争力的研发投资计划（英）_14页_755kb

SUSTAINING CAPITALISM: A Summary

Core Content

The document outlines a comprehensive strategy for the United States to reestablish its leadership in science and technology, ensuring long-term economic competitiveness and national security. It emphasizes the need for a renewed focus on basic research, public-private partnerships, and STEM workforce development to counter the growing challenges posed by other global powers, particularly China.

Main Points

1. US R&D Leadership is Under Threat

• The US remains the world leader in total R&D spending, but its global share has declined significantly, especially relative to China.
• While the US leads in quality and impact of R&D, China is rapidly catching up in quantity and patent issuance.
• The US has seen a decline in its global ranking for innovation, with the Bloomberg Innovation Index showing the US outside the top 10 for the first time since 2013.

2. Shift in R&D Funding Sources

• Federal government funding for R&D has decreased over time, from 1.9% of GDP in 1964 to 0.6% in 2016, while business R&D spending has grown.
• Basic research—the domain of the federal government—has seen a steady decline in public funding, now accounting for only 41% of total US basic research spending in 2019.
• Despite this, basic research remains critical for long-term innovation, as it often leads to breakthroughs that have wide societal benefits, not just private returns.

3. STEM Workforce Challenges

• The US workforce is lagging in STEM skills, with American students ranking 18th in science and 37th in math globally.
• Immigration policy is a key factor in attracting and retaining skilled workers in STEM fields.
• Chinese STEM graduates are increasing in number and perceived quality, while the US has seen a decline in STEM education and workforce diversity.

Key Recommendations

1. Increase Public Investment in Basic Research

• Policymakers should fund basic research that addresses national security, public health, and economic competitiveness.
• Focus on critical technologies such as AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and advanced materials.
• Evaluate the cost-effectiveness and risk of research proposals to ensure that the most promising ideas are supported.

2. Leverage Public-Private Partnerships

• Foster collaboration between the government, private industry, universities, and nonprofits to identify and prioritize high-impact research.
• Expand geographic distribution of R&D investments to underserved areas and HBCUs to ensure broader access to innovation and economic opportunity.
• Use placemaking strategies to stimulate innovation in regions outside the traditional tech hubs (e.g., the Midwest and Southern US).

3. Develop a Skilled STEM Workforce

• Boost STEM education at the K-12 level to increase interest and prepare students for future careers in science and technology.
• Create inclusive pathways into STEM careers through internships, apprenticeships, and partnerships between industry and education.
• Reform immigration policies, particularly the H1-B visa system, to facilitate the entry and retention of skilled foreign workers and graduate students in STEM fields.

Policy Implications

• The decline in federal R&D spending has led to a reduced capacity for basic research, which is essential for long-term innovation.
• China's aggressive R&D investment and state-directed innovation have enabled it to leapfrog the US in several key technologies.
• The US must address its domestic education and immigration challenges to maintain its global leadership in science and technology.

Conclusion

The US faces a crisis in innovation and competitiveness, driven by declining R&D funding, weakening STEM education, and restrictive immigration policies. To sustain capitalism and ensure continued prosperity and security, the US must reinvest in basic research, expand innovation ecosystems beyond traditional hubs, and build a diverse, skilled STEM workforce. These steps are crucial to reclaiming its leadership in the global scientific and technological landscape.