CSET’s Jaret C. Riddick and Hayes Meredith provided their expert analysis in an op-ed published by the Council on Foreign Relations. In their piece, they discuss the critical role of place-based industrial innovation policy in maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness and national security amid intensifying global strategic competition. They highlight bipartisan efforts that have led to significant federal investment in local innovation ecosystems and emphasize the importance of accessing and cultivating STEM talent—particularly in underrepresented and vulnerable communities. These efforts are part of the broader context of great power competition, especially with China and Russia, where the U.S. must strengthen its STEM talent pool.
Their op-ed also features Riddick’s research, The Global Distribution of STEM Graduates: Which Countries Lead the Way?, which analyzes recent education data from the countries producing the most graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.
To read the full op-ed, visit the Council on Foreign Relations.