Is the United States no longer a tech leader?
Business Technology | January 9, 2014
InformationWeek columnist Kevin Coleman has some not so great news for us: The United States is slowly falling from its perch as the globe’s technology and science leader. Instead, Coleman writes, the country is gradually – but steadily – transforming into a technology laggard.
Slipping
Coleman comments that research-and-development, science and technology investments in the United States are not keeping pace with those made by other nations. At the same time, the United States faces an constantly growing threat from smarter and more persistent cyber thieves. Both of these factors are chipping away at the United States’ long dominance of the technology world.
A falling giant?
There was a time, up until recently, when all countries looked up to the United States when it came to technology and innovation, Coleman writes. And it’s true that the United States spends more on technology and research-and-development than does any other country. Even so the gap between the United States and its closest competitors is shrinking, Coleman writes.
Others on the move
As Coleman writes, the BBC has predicted that by the end of this year China will rank ahead of the United States when it comes to scientific output. China has recently bypassed Japan to rank second in the world in this category. Coleman’s column also points to a U.S. Intelligence Community report proclaiming that the United States’ dominance in technology is slowly but steadily fading. What can the United States do to change this trend? As Coleman writes, investing more in high-tech education can help. Only by doing this, can the United States produce the next generation of great scientists and researchers.
InformationWeek columnist Kevin Coleman has some not so great news for us: The United States is slowly falling from its perch as the globe’s technology and science leader. Instead, Coleman writes, the country is gradually – but steadily – transforming into a technology laggard.
Slipping
Coleman comments that research-and-development, science and technology investments in the United States are not keeping pace with those made by other nations. At the same time, the United States faces an constantly growing threat from smarter and more persistent cyber thieves. Both of these factors are chipping away at the United States’ long dominance of the technology world.
A falling giant?
There was a time, up until recently, when all countries looked up to the United States when it came to technology and innovation, Coleman writes. And it’s true that the United States spends more on technology and research-and-development than does any other country. Even so the gap between the United States and its closest competitors is shrinking, Coleman writes.
Others on the move
As Coleman writes, the BBC has predicted that by the end of this year China will rank ahead of the United States when it comes to scientific output. China has recently bypassed Japan to rank second in the world in this category. Coleman’s column also points to a U.S. Intelligence Community report proclaiming that the United States’ dominance in technology is slowly but steadily fading. What can the United States do to change this trend? As Coleman writes, investing more in high-tech education can help. Only by doing this, can the United States produce the next generation of great scientists and researchers.