Latest report on state of U.S. science enterprise shows America leads as China rapidly advances global position in S&T

January 18, 2018

According to the National Science Foundation’s Science and Engineering Indicators 2018 report released today, the United States is the global leader in science and technology (S&T). However, the U.S. global share of S&T activities is declining as other nations — especially China — continue to rise.

The National Science Board (NSB) is the governing body of the National Science Foundation and publishes the congressionally mandated report on the state of science and engineering (S&E) every two years. The 2018 report shows the U.S. invests the most in research and development (R&D), attracts the most venture capital, awards the most advanced degrees, provides the most business, financial, and information services, and is the largest producer in high-technology manufacturing sectors. The complete report, which covers data on the domestic and global science and engineering landscape, is available here.   

"NSF’s Science and Engineering Indicators is the highest-quality and most comprehensive source of information on how the U.S. scientific and engineering enterprise is performing domestically and internationally,” said NSF Director France Córdova. "The 2018 report presents a wealth of easily accessible, vital data. It provides insights into how science and engineering research and development are tied to economic and workforce development, as well as STEM education, in the U.S. and abroad.”  

“This year’s report shows a trend that the U.S. still leads by many S&T measures, but that our lead is decreasing in certain areas that are important to our country,” said Maria Zuber, NSB Chair and Vice President for Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  “That trend raises concerns about impacts on our economy and workforce, and has implications for our national security. From gene editing to artificial intelligence, scientific advancements come with inherent risks. And it’s critical that we stay at the forefront of science to mitigate those risks.”

China’s growth in S&E continues at an exceptional pace

R&D expenditures reflect a nation’s commitment to expanding capabilities in S&T, which in turn drive innovation.  While the U.S. led the world in R&D expenditures at $496 billion (26% share of the global total), China was a decisive second at 21% ($408 billion). China has grown its R&D spending rapidly since 2000, at an average of 18% annually. Its focus is geared primarily toward development rather than basic or applied research. During the same time frame, U.S. R&D spending grew by only 4%. Although emerging economies start at a lower base and therefore tend to grow much more rapidly, China’s growth rate is exceptional.

Venture capital investment, which supports the commercialization of emerging technologies, totaled more than $130 billion globally in 2016. While the U.S. attracted the most investment (nearly $70 billion), accounting for slightly more than half of the global share, 26% of total venture capital funds went to China.  Venture capital in China rose from approximately $3 billion in 2013 to $34 billion in 2016, climbing from 5% to 27% of the global share, the fastest increase of any economy. 

Knowledge and technology-intensive industries—in which S&T advances are key inputs—are a major part of the global economy, comprising nearly one-third of world gross domestic product (GDP). America leads in providing business, financial, and information services, accounting for 31% of the global share, followed by the European Union (EU) at 21%.  China is the third largest producer of these services (17% global share) and continues to grow at a far faster rate (19% annual growth) than the U.S. and other developed countries. The U.S. is the largest producer of high technology manufacturing (31% global share). This includes production of air and spacecraft, semiconductors, computers, pharmaceuticals, and measuring and control instruments. China is second at 24%, more than doubling its share over the last decade. 

Higher education provides the advanced work skills needed in an increasingly knowledge-intensive global economy. According to the most recent estimates, the U.S. awarded the largest number of S&E doctoral degrees (40,000) of any country, followed by China (34,000), Russia (19,000), Germany (15,000), the United Kingdom (14,000), and India (13,000). In contrast, the U.S. lags in bachelor’s level degrees. India earned 25% of the more than 7.5 million awarded S&E bachelor’s level degrees in 2014, followed closely by China (22%), the EU (12%), and the U.S. (10%). Nearly half of all degrees awarded in China are in S&E fields. Since 2000, the number of S&E bachelor’s degrees awarded in China has gone up by 300%.   

Over the past twenty years, students have become more internationally mobile and countries increasingly compete for them as potential recruits for the S&E workforce.  International student numbers in the U.S. dropped between the fall of 2016 and the fall of 2017, with the largest declines seen at the graduate level in computer science (13% decline) and engineering (8% decline).  International students account for over 57% of graduate enrollments in computer sciences and engineering in the U.S.  These students are a critical component of the U.S. workforce in these high demand fields. Seventy nine percent of foreign doctoral graduate students choose to stay and work in the U.S. upon completion of their degree.   

Businesses Lead U.S. Research and Development

The business sector is by far the largest performer of R&D in the U.S., accounting for 72% of the $495 billion total in 2015.  For several years, the annual rise in business R&D performance has accounted for most of the growth in overall U.S. R&D.  Of the three main types of R&D — basic research, applied research, and experimental development — businesses lead in both applied research (58% of $97 billion total) and experimental development (88% of $314 billion total).  Higher education institutions continue to perform the largest share of U.S. basic research (49% of $83 billion total).  

The business sector also leads in R&D investment, providing 67% ($333 billion) of the national total in 2015. In contrast, the Federal government — which was once the primary funder of R&D (67% in 1964) – reached a historic low in 2015, funding 24% of the U.S. total.  This decline has primarily been due to the faster growth in R&D investment by the business sector. In addition, federally funded R&D has been on a declining trend since 2011 (from $127 billion in 2011 to $120 billion in 2015).

Nonetheless, the Federal government remains the largest funder of basic research ($36.9 billion, 44% of total share), and is the primary driver of both innovative research and the training of the STEM workforce. The business sector accounted for $22.7 billion (27% of total share) in 2015.   

“R&D—basic, experimental and applied—is the fuel that drives American business. Our ability to turn basic and experimental research results into practical applications is the stuff of legends,” said Vinton Cerf, NSB member and Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google. “We risk the continued success of the American enterprise if we fail to adopt policies that reinforce this boundless triad of opportunity. It is time to reverse the declining trend in Federal research support and re-invigorate American innovation.”

Advances in Science and Engineering Cross National Boundaries

The global S&T landscape is dynamic, fast-changing, and interdependent. Countries specialize in different sectors of S&E, resulting in advancements that can bring benefits across the globe. 

“What is clear from Indicators is that even though there is a rise in many emerging economies, there’s also more specialization areas emerging as top fields,” said Geraldine Richmond, Chair of NSB’s Science and Engineering Policy Committee and Presidential Chair and Professor Chemistry at the University of Oregon.

Invention is a good example of this specialization. Of the three leaders in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patents, U.S. and EU inventions are concentrated in chemistry and health, including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Japan’s patents are primarily in semiconductors, telecommunications, optics, and materials and metallurgy. Information and communication technologies—including digital communications, semiconductors, telecommunications, and optics—are mainstays of South Korea and China. 

“From my own experience working with a number of developing countries, I think one of our strengths is our ability to educate students to solve problems. Our innovations and patents really reflect that U.S. creativity remains one of our biggest assets,” said Richmond.

At the same time, the world’s scientists are increasingly collaborative in their research endeavors. Among the major producers of S&E publications, the United Kingdom had the highest international collaboration rate (57%) in 2016, followed by France (55%), and Germany (51%). The U.S. followed with a 37% international collaboration rate, up 12% from 2006. The impact of S&E publications has also become more global.  Between 2004 and 2014, the share of U.S. publications with citations from abroad increased from 47% to 56%. Countries also specialize in different fields of research, with the U.S., EU, and Japan publishing heavily across the medical and biological sciences, while India and China focus on engineering.

About Indicators

Science and Engineering Indicators is the most comprehensive source of high quality federal data on a wide range of topics that include trends in global R&D investments and knowledge-intensive industries, K-12 and postsecondary STEM education, workforce trends and composition, state level comparisons, public attitudes and understanding, and invention, knowledge transfer, and innovation. Related products—including state fact sheets—are available on the Indicators 2018 resource page. 

About NSB

The National Science Board and the National Science Foundation’s Director jointly head the agency. NSB identifies issues critical to NSF's future and establishes the Foundation’s policies. The NSB also provides the President and Congress with Science and Engineering Indicators, a biennial report on U.S. progress in science and technology. Members are appointed by the President for six-year terms and selected for their eminence in research, education, and records of distinguished service.

Media Contacts

Nadine Lymn, National Science Board, (703) 292-2490, nlymn@nsf.gov

Useful NSB Web Sites:

Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb
Media Contact: http://www.nsf.gov/staff/staff_bio.jsp?lan=nlymn&org=NSF
News: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/news
Meetings: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/meetings
Publications: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalScienceBoard
Twitter: Twitter: https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=NSF_NSB
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrHRzuGSrPp2haQs0T_Pww