Assessing the Capacity of the U.S. Engineering Research Enterprise

美国国家工程院（NAE）将召集一个由工程领袖组成的小组，对以下方面进行快速评估：(1)美国工程研究企业对国家经济、生活质量、安全和全球领导地位的过去和潜在影响；(2)公共和私人投资是否充足，以维持美国在基础工程研究方面的卓越地位。20年来，工程在联邦研发投资中所占份额的下降，以及美国工业和联邦实验室对基础、长期工程研究能力的侵蚀，对美国工程研究的长期健康状况提出了严重的问题。为了解决这些问题，这项为期9个月的计划将记录和评估美国工程研究对国家利益的最新贡献，评估其对新兴国家挑战和机遇的潜在贡献，并概述一项国家战略，以确保美国全球经济、军事、科学和技术优势的工程研究基础在面对快速的、通常是破坏性的、社会和全球变化。NAE小组将提出调查结果、建议和国家行动计划，旨在吸引美国工程企业的所有主要组成部分。智力价值：这项活动的发现将促进对工程研究的最新趋势和未来挑战的理解，工程研究（特别是基础工程研究）对国家目标的贡献，以及美国基础工程研究企业的当前健康状况。更广泛的影响：该项目的研究结果和建议将为公共部门和私营部门关于基础工程研究投资规模和组成的决策提供信息。最终，该项目的成果及其产生的行动将加强美国工程研究企业及其对未来美国经济繁荣、国家安全和全球技术领先地位的贡献。

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) will convene a panel of engineering leaders to conduct a fast-track assessment of (1) the past and potential future impact of the U.S. engineering research enterprise on the nation's economy, quality of life, security, and global leadership, and (2) the adequacy of public and private investment to sustain U.S. preeminence in basic engineering research. A two-decade decline in the share of federal R&D investment accounted for by engineering, and the perceived erosion of basic, long-term engineering research capability in U.S. industry and federal laboratories, pose serious questions about the long-term health of U.S. engineering research. To address these concerns, this nine-month initiative will document and evaluate recent contributions of U.S.-based engineering research to the nation's interests, assess its potential contribution to emerging national challenges and opportunities, and outline a national strategy for ensuring that the engineering research foundations of American global economic, military, scientific, and technological preeminence remain rock solid in the face of rapid, often disruptive, societal and global change. An NAE panel will put forward findings, recommendations, and a national action plan designed to engage all major constituents of the U.S. engineering enterprise. Intellectual Merit: The findings of this activity will advance understanding of recent trends and future challenges for engineering research, the contributions of engineering research (basic engineering research in particular) to national goals, and the current health of the U.S. basic engineering research enterprise. Broader Impact: The project's findings and recommendations will inform public sector and private-sector decision-making regarding the scale and composition of investments in basic engineering research. Ultimately, the results of the project and actions they engender should strengthen the U.S. engineering research enterprise and its contributions to future U.S. economic prosperity, national security, and global technological leadership.