AI, biotech, quantum, and other breakthrough technologies are reshaping the global economy — and the race to lead them is intensifying. While the United States invested a record $940 billion in R&D in 2023 (approximately 79 percent of which was conducted by business), other nations are moving fast to scale innovation and claim leadership in critical industries.
In the Competing in the Next Economy report, the Council on Competitiveness’ “National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers” outlines seven pillars for advancing U.S. competitiveness. Pillar 5 zeroes in on accelerating tech development at speed and scale — from cutting red tape and aligning federal labs with commercialization, to reforming defense acquisition, and protecting private-sector innovation incentives. Council President & CEO Deborah Wince-Smith explores these themes in a new Forbes.com article on why innovation at speed and scale must be a leading national priority.
