WASHINGTON—Following the House Science Committee marking up five bills to complement the United States Innovation and Competitiveness Act, funding several regional technology hubs, reauthorizing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and crafting a national science and technology strategy, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, issued the following statement from Stephen Ezell, ITIF’s vice president of global innovation policy:
This legislative package represents an essential step toward ensuring the United States retains its status of world science and technology leader and offers American businesses the instruments they need to succeed in a global market.
The Regional Innovation Act of 2021, which would authorize funding for several regional technology hubs across the United States, is important. As ITIF has previously written, such hubs would redirect R&D funding to metro areas and facilitate new and competitive regional innovation ecosystems; support the development of regional workforces; attract more financing opportunities for businesses; and foster economic inclusion.
Another important bill, the National Science and Technology Strategy Act of 2021, appropriately calls for establishing a national science and technology strategy. In addition, the NIST Reauthorization Act reauthorizes important NIST programs such as the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Manufacturing USA programs.
