Leadership in innovation is essential to U.S. prosperity and security. In a global,
knowledge-driven economy, technological innovation—the transformation of new
knowledge into products, processes, and services of value to society—is critical to
competitiveness, long-term productivity growth, and an improved quality of life.
Preeminence in technological innovation depends on a wide array of factors, one
of which is leadership in engineering research, education, and practice. A threedecade-
long decline in the share of federal investment in research and development
devoted to engineering and a perceived erosion of basic, long-term engineering
research capability in U.S. industry and federal laboratories have raised serious questions
about the long-term health of engineering research in the United States. This
book illustrates the critical role of engineering research in maintaining U.S. technological
leadership; documents major challenges and opportunities facing the U.S.
engineering research enterprise; and offers specific recommendations for leaders in
federal and state government, industry, and universities to help strengthen U.S.
engineering research in the face of intensifying global competition.
- Cover
- Front Matter
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- ENGINEERING RESEARCH: THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION
- ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
- COMMITTEE BIOGRAPHIES