Washington, DC—The Task Force on American Innovation, a nonpartisan alliance of leading American companies and business associations, research universities and scientific associations, today released the results of a report showing that while the United States continues to be the world’s leader in science research funding, several global competitors are on track to catch and eventually pass the US.

“America has always been the leader when it comes to funding innovation,” said Brian Mosley of the Computing Research Association, who co-chaired the report committee. “But this report shows that this lead may not last much longer. The innovation sector has created so much of the economic growth in the United States. Now, ominous signs show that we are putting our economic future at risk by not maintaining a healthy lead in science investment.”

The report, “Benchmarks 2019: Second Place America? Increasing Challenges to US Scientific Leadership,” documents that the US share of global R&D is diminishing while China is on track to surpass the US in R&D expenditures. South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom and China all have created national strategies to increase government investment in science research. To help sustain US leadership, the report calls for increased federal investments in scientific research and human capital.

“This is a wake-up call for policymakers in Washington,” said Tobin Smith of the Association of American Universities, who also co-chaired the report. “Maintaining a global lead in science is critical to American national security and economic interests. But this report clearly documents that the rest of the world is catching up very quickly.”

To raise awareness about the report and the significance of its findings, the Task Force on American Innovation today hosted a briefing for Congressional staffers that included Eric Fanning, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association and former Secretary of the Army; John Neuffer, President and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association; Michael McQuade, Vice President for Research at Carnegie Mellon University; and Nadya Bliss, Director of the Global Security Initiative at Arizona State University.

The full Benchmarks Report can be found at www.innovationtaskforce.org/benchmarks2019

Will Franklin