The Real Global Technology Challenge

The U.S. is no longer the universally preferred home for the global technology elite. Increasing numbers of scientists and engineers who were educated and have built successful careers there are returning to China, India, and other countries. Noting these trends, the policy and technology communities are sounding the alarm about an impending U.S. fall from scientific and technological dominance. Compounding the loss of international talent is the declining appeal of science and engineering for American students, even as the tide of engineers and scientists trained in China and India rises. Leading policy groups fear that this combination of a decline in science and engineering prowess and the rising strength of China and India will leave the United States a much-diminished technology power, one that will have to concede leadership to the emerging economies. Thus, in this article, the authors state that rather than compete with other countries on the numbers, the U.S. needs to educate the kinds of engineers and scientists who can work with their foreign counterparts to their mutual advantage. American policy makers should focus on crafting policies that support the development and work of this new breed.