OSTP Exit Memo: A Progress Report on America’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Enterprise

A look at the impact of the Obama Administration had reinvigorating the American scientific and technological enterprise, including to help build a more effective, efficient, and innovative government. This memo highlights 20 science and technology frontiers where future investment and cross-sector collaboration will drive American innovation in the decades ahead, including: Personal frontiers in health care innovation and precision medicine; Local frontiers in building smart, inclusive communities that serve all residents; National frontiers in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, automation, robotics, and advanced computing to engage and benefit all Americans; Global frontiers in accelerating the clean-energy revolution and developing advanced climate information, tools, services, and collaborations; and Interplanetary frontiers in space commercialization and exploration, including our journey to Mars. 10 actions are needed in the near term to broaden participation in the science, technology, and innovation that can drive prosperity for all Americans in the coming decades: Investing in fundamental research, the fundamental, curiosity-driven inquiry that is a hallmark of the American research enterprise and a powerful driver of new technology and innovation in the medium and long term. Recruiting, retaining, and empowering science and technology talent to help build a more effective, efficient, and innovative government that can address our hardest challenges and significantly improve service deliver to citizens. Identifying and pursuing grand challenges—ambitious yet achievable goals that harness S&T and that have the potential to capture the public’s imagination. Increasing access to high-quality STEM education and driving innovation for education to allow more Americans to succeed in high-wage STEM fields and develop the human capital needed to fuel American innovation, tackle inequality, and support informed citizenship. Improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, and mitigating the impacts of bias to harness one of America’s foundational strengths—the unparalleled diversity of the American people and the diversity of ideas they generate. Supporting innovative entrepreneurs, accelerating high-growth entrepreneurship, ensuring early-stage entrepreneurs from all backgrounds have access to startup capital, and expanding access to entrepreneurial networks and resources across all communities. Maximizing economic and social return from Federal Government data and investments research and development by opening data, increasing access to the information resulting from Federally funded research, and leveraging data science. Increasing Federal agency capacity for innovation by pioneering new approaches—and applying approaches piloted by other sectors—that can deliver better results at lower cost for the American people. Promoting open government through transparency, participation, and collaboration to empower citizens and transform how the Federal Government engages with the American people. Continuing and strengthening international science, technology, and innovation cooperation and engagement among the United States and its international partners.