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May 2026
The past quarter century has reshaped the U.S. science and engineering enterprise through the business sector’s dominant role in funding and performing research and development (R&D), the concentration of innovation activity in information technologies and critical and emerging technology areas, and the rise of China as a competitor and R&D performer. The United States maintains comparative advantages in highly cited research and patents, venture capital–backed innovation, and high-technology services, where U.S. firms dominate global production. U.S. universities remain top destinations for international postsecondary students.
Continue Reading >May 2026
Science, technology, and innovation activities expand the frontiers of fundamental and technical knowledge, often leading to new discoveries. These may be translated into outputs such as new products, licensed technologies, and companies, ultimately impacting economic output, productivity, and global trade. This thematic report presents indicators of these activities and the innovation process, which contribute to the economic competitiveness and national security of the United States and countries globally.
Continue Reading >February 2026
Talent is critical to the U.S. science and engineering enterprise and competitiveness. The U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce represented about a quarter of the total domestic workforce in 2023, with distinct education, employment, and wage patterns. Recent assessments reveal incomplete recovery for U.S. K–12 students from pandemic-related STEM learning losses. STEM degree production grew at U.S. higher education institutions at all levels between 2013 and 2023. In 2023, the United States was the leading destination for international students, despite a small decline in overall share since 2013.
Continue Reading >July 2025
The funding and performance of research and experimental development (R&D) activities and the publication of peer-reviewed research, an output of R&D activity, serve as important indicators of the competitiveness of U.S. science and engineering in a global context. According to internationally comparable data, the United States had the largest national R&D investment in 2022—above China, Japan, and Germany—and this investment was driven primarily by the business sector. The United States also remains a leader in peer-reviewed research publications in terms of output, scientific impact, and international collaborations.
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Covers major developments in the U.S. and global S&E enterprise, including education, workforce, R&D, invention and innovation, high-tech industry, and public attitudes and understanding.
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Compare states on S&E measures.
Data updated frequently.
EXPLORE STATE INDICATORS >
INTRODUCING
Create custom visualizations using data from NCSES and Science and Engineering Indicators.
The NSB establishes NSF policies and advises Congress and the President on S&E and S&E education policy.
VISIT THE NSB WEBSITE >
NCSES is the nation’s leading provider of statistical data on the U.S. S&E enterprise.
VISIT THE NCSES WEBSITE >
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