On June 23, AIP joined over 250 industry, science, and higher education organizations in endorsing a call to action for an American “Innovation Imperative” calling for stronger federal policies and investment to drive domestic research and development. This action follows the release of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences report, “Restoring the Foundation: The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream.” The Innovation Imperative underscores the findings—and warnings—contained in the report, which notes, “There is a deficit between what America is investing and what it should be investing to remain competitive, not only in research but in innovation and job creation.” The United States is failing to keep pace with competitor nations with regard to investments in basic research and development. Over the last two decades, the U.S. has had a steady decline in research and development (R&D) investment. Our nation now ranks 10th among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations in R&D investment as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).
At this pace, China will surpass the United States in R&D intensity in about eight years.
These developments led a diverse coalition of those concerned with the future of research in America to join together in presenting the Innovation Imperative to federal policy makers and urging them to take action to:
- End sequestration’s deep cuts to federal investments in R&D
- Make permanent a strengthened federal R&D tax credit
- Improve student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
- Reform US visa policy
- Streamline or eliminate costly and inefficient regulations
- Reaffirm merit-based peer review
- Stimulate further improvements in advanced manufacturing
Details on these action items, as well as a full list of signatories, can be found here.
