Pillar 3: Win the Global Technology Competition—Set Standards, Secure Research, and Forge Strategic International Partnerships 

Recommendation 6: Elevate the imperative of U.S. leadership in standards setting.

The stakes for global leadership in standards setting is a growing strategic priority due to the rise of advanced and emerging dual-use technologies with economic and national security benefits. Currently, the United States is being outflanked by both friendly and hostile global competitors, which are using standards setting to gain commercial dominance for their technology. They do so by getting their domestic technology specifications into global standards, using these standards as nontariff barriers to market entry, and protecting their existing or nascent industries. 

For example, China is expanding its global influence through multinational platforms and China-led initiatives, like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative. These efforts promote alternatives to established international development and security frameworks, which are often Western dominated. A key component of this strategy involves advancing China’s preferred standards worldwide, both through the BRI and through active participation in international standards bodies. 

China leverages its initial infrastructure sales under the BRI to establish associated technical standards. The success of Chinese technology companies in establishing China-favored standards in BRI host countries hinders the ability of Western companies to compete in these markets. As noted in a Council on Foreign Relations report, China’s Action Plan for Standards Connectivity for the Joint Construction of the Belt and Road promotes uniform technical standards across BRI host countries, and 49 countries have signed agreements for mutual standards recognition.

Adding to its influence, China has more than doubled its financial contributions to the United Nations’ regular budget since 2015, becoming the second-largest contributor after the United States. China strategically engages with international law, participating actively in forums where it can exert influence while selectively undermining those that conflict with its objectives. In the former case, China focuses on shaping rules in emerging areas of international law with significant commercial potential, such as cyber governance and industrial space. In 2023, China introduced its Global AI Governance Initiative to garner international support for its vision of AI governance.

To maintain—and in some cases regain—U.S. leadership in standards setting: 

1. There must be a deep partnership between the public and private sectors in standards setting, as this helps facilitate alignment on important issues such as timing to avoid stymying innovation. To facilitate this, forge a new compact for a proactive standards-setting process that reinforces the primacy of private sector leadership, strengthens the United States’ international engagement in standard setting, and elevates U.S. firms’ seat at the table in global standards-setting bodies—because as standards are set, markets follow. 
   
2. Expand the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) role in international standards setting, particularly in critical technologies like Artificial Intelligence and quantum. 

Recommendation 7: Elevate the focus on research security and deploy strong research security plans while limiting their administrative burdens. 

Research security is a top competitiveness issue, affecting U.S. productivity, resilience, security, and prosperity. However, following research security best practices is resource-intensive and can hinder innovation. Many institutions, particularly small ones, struggle to comply with research security measures, including following the new rules requiring institutions that receive more than $50 million in federal R&D funding to develop a research security plan. Conversely, the United States has proven it can move quickly when needs be; for example, the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines were developed in 100 days. The following steps will help secure the nation’s research while also minimizing the administrative and resource burden of doing so: 

1. Set clear, consistent, and streamlined expectations related to data protection, data sharing, and data management. 
   
2. Reduce the compliance burden while also providing targeted support and resources to universities to help them develop and implement best practices in research security. One example would be developing common documentation and classifications for work, manufacturing, testing, et. This will ensure universities and researchers are well-equipped to safeguard sensitive information and technologies while innovating quickly and pursuing appropriate IP protections.
   
3. To raise awareness of threats to intellectual property and improve research security practices, launch an education campaign directed at small businesses, start-ups, university researchers, and students. Support this with comprehensive training programs in collaboration with the DoD. 
   
4. Develop curriculum to train student researchers on private sector requirements for managing and protecting intellectual property and data. This is especially critical in university-industry partnerships, and where students do internships or co-ops with industry. 
   
5. Develop clearer rules and guidelines for partnerships, especially around intellectual property and data management. 
   
6. Increase the United States’ presence in global patents, not just U.S. patents. 
   
7. Preserve the Bayh-Dole Act’s “march-in” rights for government agency research sponsors without using such rights to force industry price controls. 

Recommendation 8: Engage U.S. allies to expedite the research, development, and scaling of technologies critical for economic security and joint security. 

By tapping the strengths, expertise, and resources of allied nations, the United States can drive innovation and enhance its technological capacity, while simultaneously strengthening geopolitical relationships. This cooperation will enable a more cohesive response to global challenges and threats, help address immediate security needs, and create more resilient supply chains. To foster greater partnerships with allies, the United States should consider the following: 

1. Identify specific technology and scientific areas in which collaboration would benefit the United States and its allies, including where allies have leading-edge specializations or need to build capacity. 
   
2. Identify where strategic alliances with like-minded partners will be an important counterbalance to near-peer economic competitors. Provide pathways for broader engagement with global partners, such as signing MOUs to secure collaboration around specific projects or technologies.