There once was a time when the United States was seen as the leading beacon of research, technology and innovation. The U.S. sat perched atop the rest of the world, serving as the principal driver of the world economy – a position it held since the end of World War II. Since 1993, however, the U.S. has witnessed a virtual standstill in technological development. As our standing has fallen, a new technological leader has emerged: China.

Georgia Tech’s “High Tech Indicators” study predicts that China will soon surpass the U.S. in its ability to develop basic science and technology, turn those developments into products and services, and market them to the rest of the world. The Asian powerhouse is on course to overthrow the U.S. in technological advances.

China’s low-cost manufacturing, coupled with its emphasis on research, technology, and development has left little room for the U.S. to compete. China has escaped the wrath of debilitating “free trade” policies like NAFTA, which have allowed China to impose unfair work practices on its citizens.

With an emphasis on training scientists and engineers, China’s ability to innovate is expected to continue swelling rapidly. The U.S. lacks the education needed to produce world-class engineers and scientists, and post-9/11 immigration barriers have kept out international scholars who would fill the void.

"It's like being 40 years old and playing basketball against a competitor who's only 12 years old -- but is already at your height," said Nils Newman, co-author of the National Science Foundation-supported study. "You are a little better right now and have more experience, but you're not going to squeeze much more performance out. The future clearly doesn't look good for the United States.”

Other Asian nations have followed in the footsteps of China’s dramatic technological rise, including South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

The U.S. no longer has a lock on research and technology and is being forced to look overseas. Prior to the Iraq War, one of the Pentagon’s biggest concerns was acquiring protective suits to safeguard American troops from unknown biological and chemical threats. The U.S. lacked the technology to manufacture these suits so it rationed its military budget outside of the U.S., giving American dollars to Germany, Austria, Finland and Japan.

The same 2005 Pentagon study identified 73 foreign suppliers who provided parts to 12 of the most important weapon systems used by American troops. With foreign suppliers manufacturing our weapons, obvious breaches in national security could arise.

The U.S. cannot afford to let its technological standing recede any further than it already has. America’s ailing economy needs to circulate its own money within the U.S. in order pull itself out of its current economic Armageddon, instead of siphoning its funds off to foreigners.

Last Wednesday, the House passed a $25 billion low-interest loan to U.S. automakers. And guess where that money is going? General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner outlined a plan to have hybrid batteries produced by Asian firms which have superior technology to American competitors.

The U.S. will never be able to rise above the recession’s ashes unless we are backed by a strong research and technology base. The U.S. already relies on foreign financing for daily operations, it can’t rely on foreign brain power as well.

Source Science Daily:

Click Here For Solutions To America's Economic Problems:

Front Page Photo by Michael Aston- Flickr © Some rights reserved