On February 28, Council on Competitiveness CEO Deborah Wince-Smith testified to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which is led by Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren. The hearing was titled “The United States, China, and the Fight for Global Leadership: Building a U.S. National Science and Technology Strategy."
Deborah framed her testimony around the core recommendations of the Council’s National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers, which works to transform the way in which we innovate across the United States, and to drive long-term productivity and inclusive prosperity – making a tangible impact on rewiring America to succeed in a fast-changing global innovation landscape and to better compete with China.
In her remarks, Deborah described the new age of innovation punctuated by the convergence and acceleration of some of the greatest revolutions in science and technology ever seen. She detailed the remarkable opportunity this creates for the United States but also for its global competitors noting that, “If we fail to make needed investments in our people and future, our nation’s fundamental capacity to grow its economy, create jobs, maintain national security, solve societal challenges, and provide a social safety net will continue to erode, and our geopolitical leadership will be at increasing risk.”
Deborah then provided a roadmap for Congress with four key recommendations from the National Commission:
- Coordinate America’s S&T and Innovation Enterprise at the Cabinet Level
- Expand and Fund Place-based Innovation Efforts
- Embrace Innovation Statecraft with Strategic Allies
- Develop and Deploy Critical Technologies at Speed and Scale
In closing, Deborah reminded Congress that “Sputnik moments” like the CHIPS and Science Act, while loud in the moment, fade with time and often become incremental rather than game changing. She urged Congress, given the enormity of the opportunities and challenges at hand, to make this a game-changing moment.
Watch the full hearing here.
Representation of the broader Council on Competitiveness Community
Deborah testified alongside three other witnesses, including Council on Competitiveness member Dr. Kim Budil, Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, Regents’ Professor of Meteorology at University of Oklahoma and Former Director of White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), was a longstanding member of the Council’s Technology Leadership & Strategy Initiative. Rounding out the panel was Mr. Klon Kitchen, Managing Director and Global Technology Policy Practice Lead, Beacon Global Strategies.
