Innovation is key driver of entrepreneurial success for any region. But how much "innovative capacity" does the United States really have?
That's the topic of a new study from The Task Force on the Future of American Innovation. The study, Measuring the Moment: Innovation, National Security, and Economic Competitiveness (PDF), assesses how the U.S. stacks up on key measures of research investment, knowledge creation, and the development of critical industries such as biotechnology, semiconductors and information technology.
According to a recent summary of the report in the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship's NDE-news, the main findings are similar to other recent studies from the National Research Council and the Council on Competitiveness.
While the US economy has many strengths, it also faces serious long-term challenges in its educational systems and in its future ability to attract and retain talent. The study emphasizes the national security implications of these trends, arguing that declines in research spending may hamper this country's ability to develop the most advanced weapons systems and defense technologies.
As NDE notes, similar threats may emerge if the United States is unable to continue creating and nurturing a skilled pool of scientists and engineers.