Washington, July 22: The White House has released a significant report on science policy, stating that China has become a formidable competitor to the United States in research spending. The report warns that Beijing’s strategic efforts are rapidly enhancing its capabilities in critical and emerging technologies.
This assessment is part of the document titled “Science: A New Golden Age,” published by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. It serves as a blueprint for restructuring the U.S. federal research and development system, which amounts to nearly $200 billion annually.
According to the report, over the past two decades, China’s research and development spending, which was previously negligible compared to the U.S., has now reached parity with the U.S. on a purchasing power-adjusted basis.
The competition is likened to the Cold War era. A chart comparing the U.S., China, and the European Union, comprising 27 countries, states, “For the first time, the U.S. faces a competitor in research and development spending on a purchasing power parity-adjusted basis.”
The document emphasizes that Beijing has placed scientific research capabilities at the center of its global competitive strategy, with high-level decisions made to coordinate research efforts across various sectors.
It states, “This inclusive approach has allowed China to mobilize resources for fundamental scientific research, advance rapidly in critical technologies of national interest, and improve its innovation processes.”
China is also recognized as a competitor in autonomous scientific laboratories, which can assist in designing and conducting experiments in artificial intelligence and robotics. The report notes that while the U.S. has established prototype autonomous facilities in its national laboratories, “other countries, including Canada and China, are advancing rapidly.”
The White House blueprint advises focusing federal resources on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, nuclear fission and fusion, advanced communication, robotics, manufacturing, and space systems.
Notably, the report does not mention India or Indian scientific institutions. It does not identify India as a potential partner in any of the national technology missions outlined.
However, the accompanying memorandum on research priorities for fiscal year 2028 allows federal agencies to consider funding initiatives that involve “international partners” sharing costs. No specific country is named, nor are the scientific fields in which such international agreements should be pursued detailed.
While the report highlights China’s dominance in international comparisons, it also references several other countries as examples of research improvement or industrial competition.
The United Kingdom is credited with reorganizing its science funding system and establishing a ‘Meta-Science Unit’ in 2024. This unit’s role is to gather evidence, test new funding methods, and assess the reliability of peer-review decisions.
Norway is cited for reorganizing its national research council under a portfolio-based system, where the board allocates funding based on identified topics in the government’s long-term research plan.
The report recalls how, until the 1980s, Japanese manufacturers captured a significant share of the global memory chip market. This challenge led to the formation of the Sematech consortium in 1987, supported by the federal government, involving 14 U.S. semiconductor companies.
Overall, the document warns that the industrial benefits of discoveries made in the U.S. often accrue to other countries. It notes that the only company capable of producing extreme ultraviolet lithography machines is headquartered in Europe, while Asian companies dominate the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
The report also references changes made to the U.S. research system after World War II and the publication of Vannevar Bush’s book “Science: The Endless Frontier” in 1945. It argues that the emergence of a competitive peer and the rise of AI necessitate another fundamental restructuring.
Federal agencies with a research and development budget of at least $3 billion for fiscal year 2026 must submit implementation plans within 90 days. They will also need to incorporate the White House’s priorities into their budget proposals for fiscal year 2028.
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