Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today issued the following statement, attributed to TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore, in response to the introduction of President Biden’s FY 2024 budget:

“To win the next era of innovation, we need leaders from both parties working together to make the necessary investments that will strengthen our workforce, spur economic growth, and bolster American innovation.

“We applaud President Biden for including robust funding in his budget for key bipartisan priorities that advance innovation and create good-paying jobs, like the creation of regional technology hubs authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act. Regional innovation hubs will create new opportunities for economic success across the heartland and empower students, inventors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and workers to accelerate our global competitiveness in critical and emerging technologies for decades to come. The President’s budget also includes funding to increase STEM education and workforce development programs to address the growing skills gap in the U.S. and counter investments being made by China and other foreign rivals.

“While we fully recognize that this is an opening budget proposal in a year of divided government, we know that these are shared bipartisan priorities. We look forward to working with the Administration and leaders from both parties in Congress to grow our economy, provide Americans with the skills needed to compete in the 21st century, and boost U.S. competitiveness so we can win the next era of innovation.”

Background:

  • This month, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute published a report that puts Chinese researchers ahead of Americans in 37 of 44 technologies examined, across the sectors of defense, space, robotics, energy, environment, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, advanced materials and quantum technology.
  • Last month, TechNet sent a letter to President Biden urging robust funding for the regional technology and innovation hubs authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to be included in his budget request to Congress this year.