Why the U.S. is losing its technology edge

The fact that the U.S. no longer dominates science and technology is not surprising. But, according to a blue ribbon panel, what is of concern is the fact that the U.S. may be in danger of relinquishing its leadership position entirely.

Over the past 20 years, the U.S. share of global high tech exports fell from 31 percent to 18 percent says a report from the Task Force on the Future of American Innovation, a panel made up of high-profile U.S. companies and business and scientific associations. The blame, the report says, falls squarely on American schools. There seems to be decreasing interest in science and engineering being displayed by young Americans. That is reflected in a drop-off of 10 percent in enrollment in science and engineering classes among U.S. citizens between 1994 and 2001.

During the same period, enrollment of foreign-born students in U.S. universities has increased 25 percent. Other signs of trouble include slowdowns in both research and government funding for basic sciences. In the meantime Asian countries boosted its share of global exports from 7 percent in 1980 to 25 percent in 2001. And Asia is bringing the battle to U.S. shores—U.S. patent applications from China, India, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan grew by 759 percent over the 1990s while similar applications in the United States increased by only 116 percent, the report said.

Red Herring, TechSpin, 2/17/05