The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2020
January 2020
This report covers trends in and the relative global position of the U.S. S&E enterprise, including education, workforce, R&D, industry output, and innovation. Data show mixed trends. The United States continues to perform the most R&D, award the most S&E doctoral degrees, and account for significant numbers of S&E research articles and citations worldwide. However, growth of S&E capabilities in other nations, particularly China, has outpaced that of the United States along several dimensions. The United States has seen its relative share of global S&T activity flatten or decline, even as its absolute activity levels kept rising.
Continue Reading >Publications Output: U.S. Trends and International Comparisons
October 2021
This report presents data on conference proceedings and peer-reviewed science and engineering journals that reflect the expanding volume of research activity, the involvement and scientific capabilities of different countries, and the growing research ecosystem demonstrated through international collaborations. Publication output grew 5% over the past 4 years, led by China and other middle-income countries. Internationally collaborative research increased in 2020 with nearly one in four articles having coauthors from multiple countries.
Continue Reading >Academic Research and Development
September 2021
This report examines R&D performed by U.S. higher education institutions. It discusses funding by source and S&E field for R&D activities and equipment and provides information on research space. It benchmarks the United States against other nations, and it looks at how academic R&D investments relate to investments in education and training of students and postdoctoral researchers. Academic R&D remains focused on basic research. Most of it is performed by a small percentage of U.S. higher education institutions. The federal government funds over half of academic R&D, although institutional support represents an increasing share.
Continue Reading >The STEM Labor Force of Today: Scientists, Engineers, and Skilled Technical Workers
August 2021
Individuals in the STEM workforce make important contributions to improve a nation’s living standards, economic growth, and global competitiveness. This report details several aspects of the U.S. STEM workforce, including growth, demographic makeup, earnings, and unemployment. The STEM workforce is made of occupations that require STEM skills and expertise, including occupations not typically considered STEM fields (e.g., maintenance and repair, construction trades, and production occupations). In 2019, the STEM workforce represented 23% of the total U.S. workforce, and over half of this workforce does not have a bachelor’s degree.
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