National Competitiveness
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As nations engage in a race for global advantage in innovation, ITIF champions a new policy paradigm that ensures businesses and national economies can compete successfully by spurring public and private investment in foundational areas such as research, skills, and 21st century infrastructure. Our work on competitiveness policy includes analysis of the many factors and policies driving national competitiveness, including improving innovation ecosystems and the technical capacity of high-value-added industries.
Vice President, Global Innovation Policy, and Director, Center for Life Sciences Innovation
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
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Head of Policy, Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
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China Is Rapidly Becoming a Leading Innovator in Advanced Industries
There may be no more important question for the West’s competitive position in advanced industries than whether China is becoming a rival innovator. While the evidence suggests it hasn’t yet taken the overall lead, it has pulled ahead in certain areas, and in many others Chinese firms will likely equal or surpass Western firms within a decade or so.
A Techno-Economic Agenda for the Next Administration
The next administration needs to place innovation, productivity, and competitiveness at the core of its economic policy. To that end, this report offers a comprehensive techno-economic agenda with 82 actionable policy recommendations.
The Hamilton Index, 2023: China Is Running Away With Strategic Industries
China now dominates the strategically important industries in ITIF’s Hamilton Index, producing more than any other nation in absolute terms and more than all but a few others in relative terms. Its gains are coming at the expense of the United States and other G7 and OECD economies, and time is running short for policymakers to mount an industrial comeback.
More Publications and Events
May 22, 2025|Blogs
Forget GDP. The Real Reason to Boost Manufacturing Is Power
A deindustrialized nation, which the United States is on the path to becoming, is not a strong nation. Especially not when China is doing everything it can to dominate the world’s advanced, dual-use industries.
May 22, 2025|Events
ITIF-KAIST Forum on Korean Strategic Technology and Innovation
At the ITIF-KAIST Joint Forum, a distinguished group of experts confronted the turbulence stemming from the Trump administration’s strategic direction and explore critical questions surrounding technology sovereignty. The discussions also focused on practical pathways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the US and the Republic of Korea (ROK).
May 21, 2025|Reports & Briefings
Short-Circuited: How Semiconductor Tariffs Would Harm the U.S. Economy and Digital Industry Leadership
Imposing blanket tariffs on U.S. semiconductor imports would imperil U.S. leadership across a broad range of digital and nondigital industries while significantly decreasing U.S. economic growth, raising prices, and jeopardizing broader U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
May 21, 2025|Blogs
Who Needs the World Anyway? (American Innovators Do)
Advanced technology companies in the United States export more than half a trillion dollars annually. These firms also have a global presence by manufacturing abroad. Retaliation against U.S. tariffs would harm these exports and foster more offshoring.
May 18, 2025|Reports & Briefings
South Korean Policy in the Trump and China Era: Broad-Based Technological Innovation, Not Just Export-Led Growth
In the Trump and China era, South Korea must move beyond export-led growth. Scaling up small firms and boosting productivity in services must be national imperatives.
May 16, 2025|Blogs
America Is Falling Behind on University Research
The United States is falling behind its global peers in funding university research, now ranking 27th in the OECD. To maintain global leadership and compete with countries like China, policymakers must reverse the dangerous cuts to university research.
May 14, 2025|Blogs
Forget the Average—It’s the Top Students Who Drive National Innovation Progress
When it comes to a nation’s innovation and global competitiveness, what truly matters is how the top students perform, since they will play a disproportionate role in shaping the nation’s technological and economic edge. Policymakers should expand K-12 gifted and talented programs and provide high school students with more advanced and honors classes.
May 12, 2025|Podcasts
Decoding the Techno-Economic Power Struggle, With Alex Capri
There is a clear linkage between technology and national security, economic strength and social stability.
May 5, 2025|Reports & Briefings
The State Hamilton Index: Most States Underperform in Advanced Industries
Innovation-driven production is key to reclaiming U.S. dominance on the international stage. Yet, all but a few U.S. state economies are less concentrated in advanced industries than the world average—and only one is ahead of China.
May 5, 2025|Blogs
Overly Stringent Export Controls Chip Away at American AI Leadership
While the U.S. government is right to prevent U.S. companies from selling advanced AI technology to the Chinese military, cutting U.S. companies off from the entire Chinese market is a cure worse than the disease. It will ultimately harm both U.S. national security and economic interests.
