America already has has lost its global competitive advantage in science, and financing cuts Proposed at the beginning of 2025 can advance a hasty decline.
Cups offered to federal agencies that finance scientific research could undermine America’s global competitiveness, with negative impacts on the economy and the ability to attract and train the next generation of researchers.
I am an astronomerAnd I was the main administrator of the College of Science at the University of Arizona. Because of these roles, I am invested in the future of scientific research in the United States. I am worried about financing reductions could mean a decrease in the quantity and quality of published research – and that certain potential discoveries will not be made.
The endless border
A substantial part of American prosperity after the Second World War was due to the country’s investment in science and technology.
Bush Vannevar founded the business who became later Raytheon and was the president of Carnegie Institution. In 1945, he published a report to President Franklin D. Roosevelt called The endless border.
In this report, Bush argued that Scientific research was essential the economic well-being and security of the country. His plea led to the foundation of National Sciences Foundation And scientific policy As we know today. He argued that a centralized approach to scientific financing would effectively distribute resources to scientists doing research in universities.
AP photo / Andrew Harnik
Since 1945, progress in science and technology have resulted in 85% of Americans economic growth. Science and innovation are the Prosperity enginesOr Research generates New technologies, innovations and solutions that improve quality of life and stimulate economic development.
This causal relationshipWhere scientific research leads to innovations and inventions that promote economic growth, is true in the world.
The importance of basic research
Investment in research and development has been tripled since 1990, but this growth has been funded by the business sector for applied research, while Federal investment in basic research has stagnated. The distinction is important, because basic research, which is a purely exploratory research, has enormous downstream advantages.
Quantum calculation is an excellent example. Quantum IT is from 40 years ago, based on the fundamental physics of quantum mechanics. He has matured It is only in recent years to the point where quantum computers can solve certain problems faster than conventional computers.
AP photo / Ross D. Franklin
Around the world, basic research is paid for itself and has More impact on economic growth that the research applied. Indeed, basic research expands the shared knowledge base on which innovators can draw.
For example, a biotechnology defense company calculated that each dollar funding at the National Institutes of Health generates $ 2.46 US $ economic activityThis is why a recent cut From $ 9 billion to its funding is so disturbing.
The American public also values science. At a time of Getting confidence In public institutions, more than 3 out of 4 Americans claim that research investments create employment possibilitiesand a similar percentage is convinced that scientists act in the Best interest from the public.
Science Superpower Slipping
According to some measures, American science is pre -eminent. Researchers working in America have gained more than 40% of Scientific Nobel Prize – Three times more than people from any other country. American research universities are magnets for scientific talentand the United States spend more Research and development than any other country.
But there is intense competition to be a scientific superpower, and several measures suggest that the United States slips. Research and development GDP percentage expenses went from a summit of 1.9% in 1964 to 0.7% in 2021. worldwide, the United States ranked 12th for this metric in 2021, behind South Korea and European countries.
In Number of scientific researchers As part of the workforce, the United States ranks 10th.
The metrics of the quality of research tell a similar story. In 2020, China exceeded the United States having most of the Top 1% of the most cited items.
China also leads the world in the number of patents, and it exceeded The United States on research in recent decades. Switzerland and Sweden overshadow the United States in terms of Scientific and technological innovation. This Definition of innovation Go beyond laboratory research and the number of scientific articles published to include improvements to results in the form of new goods or new services.
Among American educators and workers in technical fields, 3 out of 4 think that the United States has already lost the competition For world leadership.
Threats to scientific funding
In this context, the threats made at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term to scientific funding are worrying.
Trump’s first wave of decrees caused Chaos in scientific agencies While they were struggling to interpret the directives. A large part of anxiety involved excluding language and programs related to Diversity, equity and inclusionor dei.
THE National Sciences Foundation is particularly in the reticle. At the end of January 2025, He frozen Routine examination and approval of subsidies and new expenses, hampering future research, and was Check the subsidies to make sure they comply With the orders of the American president.
The National Institutes of Health announced on February 7, 2024 a decision to Limit general costs at 15% which sent many researchers in shock Although has since been temporarily blocked by a judge. THE National Health Institutes is the largest funder in the world of biomedical research, and these Indirect costs Provide support for the operation and maintenance of laboratory installations. They are essential to do research.
The new administration has proposed deeper cuts. The National Science Foundation was says to prepare For the loss of half of its staff and two thirds of its funding. Other federal scientific agencies face similar threats layoffs and financing cuts.
The impact
The Congress has not already managed to engage in its commitment in 2022 to Increase research fundingand federal funding for scientific agencies is in a 25 year old file.
While the president’s proposals reach the approval or negotiation of the congress, they will traditionally test Bipartite support Science has held. If the congress more reduces budgets, I believe that the impact on job creationthe formation of young scientists And Economy health will be substantial.
Deep cuts to agencies that explain a Small fraction – a little more than 1% – Federal expenses will not put a breach budget deficitBut they could irreparably harm one of the most precious companies in the country.