America remains a world leader in innovation, but other nations have been moving fast to cultivate their own prowess at developing technologies of the future.
The report says a vital first step is to restart the flow of financing to startups, perhaps borrowing from state-level programs that have encouraged "angel investors" and venture capital firms. And in addition to its role in funding basic research, the government can collaborate with universities and businesses in efforts to ensure that jobs spawned by the new technologies end up in the US rather than overseas.