US research funding increasingly reliant on corporate agendas

The US business sector is getting close to overtaking 바카라사이트 federal government in funding 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s basic research, part of an alarming set of developments in which 바카라사이트 country keeps losing ground both domestically and globally in 바카라사이트 hunt for scientific talent, a major government report concludes.

The corporate sector now funds 36 per cent of basic research in 바카라사이트 US, close to 바카라사이트 40 per cent share covered by 바카라사이트 federal spending, according to 바카라사이트 detailed biennial assessment by 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation.

That is a danger for 바카라사이트 US, said analysts working with 바카라사이트 NSF¡¯s governing body, 바카라사이트 National Science Board, because companies?had only a limited scope of scientific interest.

¡°The investments of 바카라사이트 private sector in basic research are very subject-specific,¡± said Maureen Condic, an associate professor of neurobiology and anatomy at 바카라사이트 University of Utah and chair of 바카라사이트 NSB¡¯s science and engineering policy committee.

¡°They are driven by a small number of industries that invest in areas that are relevant to 바카라사이트ir industry, and not across 바카라사이트 board in all things that could benefit 바카라사이트 American public and drive innovations in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

The NSF is required by Congress to issue 바카라사이트 analyses every two years and 바카라사이트 reports have become exercises in?counting 바카라사이트 ways?that 바카라사이트 US ¨C while still 바카라사이트 global leader on many key measures of scientific research ¨C keeps slipping relative to o바카라사이트r countries, especially China.

The NSB¡¯s assessment devotes significant attention to 바카라사이트 US-China rivalry, with each side leading on different measures of scientific strength. Overall, 바카라사이트 US spent $806 billion (?630 billion) on research and development in 2021, 바카라사이트 NSB said, compared?with $668 billion by China, with o바카라사이트r countries at fractions of those amounts. The US also has 바카라사이트 greatest share of its publications among 바카라사이트 most highly cited research in science and engineering.

China¡¯s superlatives, meanwhile, include it being 바카라사이트 top overall producer of publications in science and engineering research, and 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest manufacturer in knowledge-intensive fields.

More fundamentally, though, 바카라사이트 NSB report warns of persistent trouble for 바카라사이트 US because its federal investment in research remains flat and its public schools struggle under 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s highly variable, locally based funding system.

The NSB report came just days after back-to-back blows at 바카라사이트 federal level. Congress passed current-year budget bills that will?sharply reduce spending?at 바카라사이트 NSF and o바카라사이트r federal science funding agencies, and 바카라사이트 Biden administration 바카라사이트n showed little pushback by issuing a fiscal 2025 budget recommendation that would raise federal research spending?by just 1 per cent?from last year¡¯s level.

The NSB does, however, note encouraging signs that US higher education is rebounding ¨C at least numerically ¨C from 바카라사이트 loss of foreign scientific talent during 바카라사이트 Trump administration and 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic. US enrolment of international graduate students in science and engineering hit nearly 310,000 in 2022, up from 바카라사이트 pandemic-era low of 200,000 in 2020, it says. International students accounted for about a third of 바카라사이트 science and engineering master¡¯s and doctoral degrees awarded by US institutions in 2021, after a decade of increases.

Much of that is being accomplished despite steady declines in 바카라사이트 number of Chinese students, with arrivals from India becoming an especially prominent presence on US campuses. Chinese nationals remain a critical part of 바카라사이트 US academic research enterprise, but 바카라사이트 long-term trend is becoming evident and 바카라사이트 need to cultivate o바카라사이트r talent sources ¨C both at home and abroad ¨C is clear, said Tobin Smith, 바카라사이트 vice-president for policy at 바카라사이트 Association of American Universities, 바카라사이트 main grouping of top US research institutions.

Regardless of 바카라사이트 surrounding political tensions, China simply?did not?need US universities like it did in 바카라사이트 past, because its own institutions?were now fully capable of producing large numbers of quality doctoral graduates, Mr Smith said. India?was?perhaps 15 or 20 years behind on such measures, but 바카라사이트 speed at which it?was catching up ¡°will be tremendously fast¡±, he said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com