Academic Research and Development
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. Academic R&D has grown every year since 1975 and 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. Growth in research space has largely been in biological and biomedical sciences, while equipment expenditures are similar to those a decade ago.
GO TO REPORTAcademic Research and Development
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.
GO TO REPORTAcademic Research and Development
Academic institutions in the United States contribute considerably to U.S. basic research. The federal government funds over half of academic research and development (R&D), but its share of support has declined while the share funded by institutions has grown. Academic R&D spending remains concentrated in very high research activity institutions, which train most U.S. science and engineering (S&E) doctoral students and employ most S&E postdoctoral researchers (postdocs). This report presents data on funding by source and S&E field for R&D activities and equipment and provides information on research space. The report also benchmarks the United States against other nations and discusses trends on the demographics of the academic workforce and on investments in the training of students and postdocs.
GO TO REPORTElementary and Secondary Mathematics and Science Education
This report presents national trends in K–12 student achievement and compares U.S. student performance with that of other nations. It explores mathematics and science knowledge from kindergarten to fifth grade, followed by STEM achievement for eighth graders, finding differences across socioeconomic status. International comparisons show that U.S. students score in the middle of advanced economies. The report also finds certain STEM coursetaking in high school relates to the choice of a STEM major in college or to entering the skilled technical workforce among students who transition directly to work.
GO TO REPORTElementary and Secondary STEM Education
Elementary and secondary STEM education is the foundation for student entry into postsecondary STEM majors and occupations. This report presents national trends in K–12 student achievement in STEM and compares U.S. STEM achievement with that of other nations. It explores mathematics and computer science achievement, by student characteristics. The report also presents information about secondary school mathematics and science teachers, exploring their qualifications and how these may vary. In addition, the report explores how COVID-19 affected student learning and access to educational resources.
GO TO REPORTElementary and Secondary STEM Education
Elementary and secondary STEM education is the foundation for student entry into postsecondary STEM majors and occupations. This report presents national trends in K–12 student achievement in STEM and compares U.S. STEM achievement with that of other nations. The report shows that student achievement in mathematics, which had already plateaued for the past decade, has now regressed approximately 20 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pre-pandemic international assessment of mathematics and science in 2019 shows that eighth graders in the U.S ranked about in the middle of education systems in countries with advanced economies.
GO TO REPORTHigher Education in Science and Engineering
Higher education in science and engineering (S&E) develops the talent that sustains the U.S. S&E enterprise. This report describes U.S. undergraduate and graduate education in S&E and S&E-related fields with international comparisons. The number of S&E certificates and degrees awarded is increasing, as is the share of all degrees awarded in S&E fields. Representation of women varies by S&E field, and some racial and ethnic groups remain underrepresented in S&E degree attainment. The United States is among the top countries in awarding S&E degrees and S&E graduate enrollment of international students has increased rapidly since 2020.
GO TO REPORTHigher Education in Science and Engineering
This report examines trends in U.S. S&E higher education within a global context. It contains information on U.S. higher education institutions, including S&E degree awards, student demographics, cost, and debt. S&E fields have grown at all degree levels. Yet many groups of Americans remain underrepresented among degree recipients. The United States continues to attract the most international students worldwide, but the number enrolled in U.S. institutions has declined over the past 2 years. China has rapidly increased the number of S&E degrees awarded, compared with more moderate rises in the United States and the European Union.
GO TO REPORTHigher Education in Science and Engineering
Higher Education in Science and Engineering examines U.S. trends within a global context. It discusses degree awards, certificates, student demographics, cost, and debt. S&E degrees continue to increase both in numbers and as shares of total degrees. Representation of women among S&E degree recipients varies by field, and several demographic groups remain underrepresented in S&E degree attainment. The United States awards the most S&E doctorates and is the most popular destination for international students, but international enrollment declined sharply in fall 2020 due to COVID-19.
GO TO REPORTInvention, Knowledge Transfer, and Innovation
This report covers trends in the interrelated system of invention, knowledge transfer, and innovation. Patent and trademark applications, which are indicators of invention, more than doubled globally between 2008 and 2017, with middle-income countries worldwide rapidly increasing their participation. In the United States, technology transfer metrics for the federal government and academic institutions include invention disclosure, licensing, and collaboration activities. The last section covers venture capital investment and innovation. Between 2014 and 2016, about 17% of U.S. firms introduced a new product or processes.
GO TO REPORTInvention, Knowledge Transfer, and Innovation
Governments, academia, and business all contribute to the interrelated system of invention, knowledge transfer, and innovation. Patenting activities—an indicator of invention—are increasingly international, with middle-income countries increasing their share of patents granted worldwide. Trademark registrations, an indicator of innovation, dropped 9% in 2020 after a decade of growth—a sign of the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Global venture capital investment continued a trend of growth in 2020. The share of this investment to firms headquartered in the United States dropped to 47% in 2020 from 80% in 2000.
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