Letter Warns of the Consequences of a Growing Investment Gap with our Adversaries as Total Chinese R&D Expenditure Reaches 1.6 times That of the United States 

Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today submitted a comment to the National Science Foundation for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) from TechNet CEO Linda Moore on the development of a 2025 National Artificial Intelligence R&D Strategic Plan. The letter underscored how the United States can strengthen R&D to secure its position as the unrivaled world leader in AI.

“R&D serves as the backbone for U.S. innovation, enabling the discovery of new algorithms, models, and technologies that will enhance AI capabilities and ensure the United States remains the global leader in the development and deployment of AI. Yet, with expenditures at over 1.6 times that of the U.S., China has overtaken America in public sector R&D investments. To remain competitive, the United States needs to commit the resources necessary to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. Strategic federal investments in R&D underscore America’s national priorities, boost private sector investments, and help pave the way for groundbreaking technology that significantly improves peoples’ daily lives.”

Total Chinese R&D expenditure is 1.6 times that of the United States according to the latest data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In addition to advocating for increased federal investment in basic research, R&D, and workforce development, the letter encourages the administration to prioritize several other key areas, including fostering international collaboration in AI R&D; focusing on foundational AI research, next-generation hardware, and computational infrastructure; investing in AI research with high reward potential for future competitiveness; advancing AI for national security and critical infrastructure; and addressing the impact of AI on the American workforce.

The text of the full letter can be read here.