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.
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 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
Fact of the Week: The United States Faces a $3.7 Trillion Gap in Infrastructure Investment Spending
The United States is falling $3.7 trillion short of the $9.1 trillion required to bring infrastructure to a good level of repair nationally.
May 2, 2025|Blogs
Long Job Tenures Could Slow National Innovation
Innovation can stagnate when workers remain in the same positions for extended periods. Policymakers should invest in reducing labor market barriers (e.g., hiring barriers) and workforce training while creating targeted safety nets to balance flexibility with security.
May 1, 2025|Op-Eds & Contributed Articles
Canada Should Harness Its AI Advantage, Not Squander It
In an era when AI is poised to improve everything from crop yields to cancer detection, Canada’s central priority should be accelerating AI adoption to enhance economic prosperity and quality of life, not erecting barriers to innovation through overly precautionary regulation.
April 22, 2025|Events
How the Rise of Chinese E-Commerce Platforms Will Impact the United States
Watch now for a discussion with experts on e-commerce regulation, logistics, and policy as they explored the growth of Chinese e-commerce platforms, their impact on U.S. businesses and consumers, and how policymakers and industry leaders should respond.
April 22, 2025|Blogs
Why University Research Is Crucial to US Competitiveness
The higher education sector remains the leader in R&D investments for basic research. If the United States wants to stay ahead of China, it must invest more, not less, in basic and applied research to build the foundational knowledge needed for innovation.
April 22, 2025|Blogs
The Trump Administration Should Get Industry More Involved in University Research Funding
To beat China, the United States must better align university research with critical technologies and ensure it directly supports the needs of American firms. To do that, federal research funding agencies should prioritize university researchers who have secured financial commitments from industry.
April 16, 2025|Blogs
Trump Trade Negotiations: Embrace Strategic Trade, Not Autarky
The Trump administration will have to make a choice: Demand the removal of all foreign trade barriers or be strategic and focus on eliminating those critical to America’s techno-economic future.
April 16, 2025|Op-Eds & Contributed Articles
Galvanizing Canadian Ambition: Going From Middle Power to Global Leader
Canada has long embraced its identity as a “middle power,” but it has the potential to be more than just a supporting player. With greater ambition and the right vision, Canada can shape global markets and emerge as a dominant force.
April 14, 2025|Blogs
Fact of the Week: Americans Continue To Earn Higher Household Incomes Than Previous Generations
A study by the Federal Reserve Board shows that despite significantly increased costs for higher education and housing, average household income for Millennials grew 18 percent compared to Generation X.