The U.S. Is No Longer the World’s Laboratory

America’s superpower has always been its optimism, and an optimistic nation invests in the future. In 1960, the U.S. was the largest spender on R&D, accounting for 69% of global spending. That money ensured the U.S. was a global leader in science and technology, providing us with weather satellites, GPS, the internet, drones, and most recently, messenger-RNA vaccines. Such vaccines were unproven until the U.S. government granted Moderna $25 million in 2013. Almost a decade and a half-billion doses later, it’s safe to say the investment paid off. The U.S. is spending more than ever on R&D, but it now accounts for only 30% of global investment, as other nations recognize the competitive advantages good research brings.

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U.S. Share of Global R&D Spending

Source: Congressional Research Office.

Note: Includes public and private R&D expenditures.