The evolution of excellence: Policies, paradigms, and practices shaping US research and development

An ongoing interest in the history of US technological advancement exists due to its influence on US economic growth, productivity, and international competitiveness. Federal government policy and investments have fostered a collaborative culture between the main supporters and performers of US research and development: the government, academia, and industry. At present, a full two-thirds of our nation's research and development spending comes from the private sector, and research and development is closely linked to the marketplace. The US government tracks key international science and technology metrics in order to inform its priority-setting process. The latest trends indicate that a broad expansion of science and technology capabilities is underway in many countries, both policy- and market-driven. In today's economic landscape, the US is confronting a host of new challenges on the global scientific and economic competitive fronts.