Leadership Under Challenge: Information Technology R&D in a Competitive World. An Assessment of the Federal Networking and Information Technology R&D Program

Abstract

The United States is today the global leader in networking and information technology (NIT).That leadership is essential to U.S. economic prosperity, security, and quality of life. This report presents a formal assessment of the Federal Networking and Information Technology R&D (NITRD) Program, beginning with a review of global networking and information technology competitiveness. The NITRD Program is examined in the broader context of U.S. networking and information technology leadership and global competitiveness in order to provide a current picture of the U.S. competitive stance and an evaluation of how well the NITRD Program is positioned to help sustain and strengthen U.S. leadership in these critical technologies. The report highlights the need to revolutionize postsecondary education and advanced training in NIT fields and to rebalance the Federal NIT R&D portfolio to emphasize more large-scale, long-term, multidisciplinary activities and visionary, high-payoff goals. This report is organized into five chapters. Chapter 1 provides broad context by examining America's global leadership and competitive position in NIT as compared to major current and likely future competitor nations. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on central aspects of the U.S. NIT ecosystem: NIT education and training, the structure of the Federal NIT R&D portfolio, and technology transfer. In Chapter 4, the PCAST discusses specific NIT R&D areas that it has identified as priorities. The report concludes in Chapter 5 with an assessment of the mechanisms through which the NITRD Program is implemented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA474709

Entities

People

  • Daniel A. Reed
  • E. F. Kvamme
  • George Scalise
  • John H. Marburger

Organizations

  • Executive Office of the President of the United States

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Autonomy
  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Business Administration
  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Employment
  • Information Science
  • Information Systems
  • Intellectual Property
  • Interagency Coordination
  • National Security
  • Network Architecture
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Software Design
  • Software Development

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.