Congress should increase funding for the Engineering Research Center (ERC) program to $100 million per year, and increase funding for the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) program to $50 million per year.

To Do: Increase Funding for the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Programs

To Do: Increase Funding for the National Science Foundation's Engineering Programs

Congress should direct NSF to establish stronger university entrepreneurship metrics and use them to provide stronger incentives for commercializing research.

To Do: Direct NSF to Establish Stronger University Entrepreneurship Metrics

The administration should establish a National Competitiveness Council to formulate and coordinate advanced-industry competitiveness policy across the federal enterprise.

To Do: Establish a National Competitiveness Council

Congress and the administration should establish a National Advanced Industry and Technology Agency to ensure the United States can compete effectively with China.

To Do: Establish a National Advanced Industry and Technology Agency

With the rise of China, the U.S. economic and technology environment has fundamentally and inexorably changed. The most important step Congress and the Biden administration can take to meet the challenge is to create a dedicated national advanced industry and technology agency.

Why the United States Needs a National Advanced Industry and Technology Agency

The National Science Foundation should offer grants to several universities that put forward the best proposals for degrees in industrial policy.

To Do: Encourage Degree Programs in Industrial Policy

Congress should mandate the creation of a traded-sector analysis unit to assess key indicators of overall U.S. competitiveness performance and develop strategic policy roadmaps for key traded sectors.

To Do: Create a Traded-Sector Analysis Unit Within the Federal Government

Congress should create a U.S. Economic Competitiveness Commission to provide an independent assessment of U.S. competitiveness in traded sectors, including but not limited to manufacturing.

To Do: Create a U.S. Economic Competitiveness Commission

Congress should hold the National Labs to stronger performance standards for tech transfer to firms in the United States.

To Do: Increase the Share of Industry Representatives on the National Science Board

Recommendation

Details

Editors’ Recommendations

The Competitive Edge: A Policymaker’s Guide to Developing a National Strategy

Related

To Do: Increase Funding for the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Programs

To Do: Direct NSF to Establish Stronger University Entrepreneurship Metrics

To Do: Establish a National Competitiveness Council