Mar 14 1976
From The Space Library
U.S. worldwide predominance in science and technology had eroded over the past 15 yr, said a National Science Foundation report transmitted to Congress by President Ford. Based on a review of 492 major technological innovations, the report said the U.S. share of the total sank from 75% in 1953-55 to 58% in 1971-73. U.S. spending on research and development declined from a peak of 3% of gross national product in 1963 to 2.3% in 1974. Since 1960, U.S. receipts for use of American inventions abroad had tripled, but payments the other way had increased 4.5 times. Foreign inventors receiving U.S. patents now accounted for more than 30% of all those issued by the Patent Office. The study was the most specific compilation to date on changes in relative support for science in the U.S. and other nations; the USSR, West Germany, France, and Japan had improved their inventiveness and worker productivity faster than the U.S. The message to Congress did not mention the international comparisons, but said inflation and recession had adversely affected science and technology in the U.S. (NYT, 14 Mar 76, 1)
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