The world is experiencing change on many different levels. Nano technologies, biochemical technologies, artificial intelligence and new forms of renewable energy are developing rapidly. Population growth and climate change are interacting with new technological and economic systems. Some countries such as the US, the UK, Germany, Israel, Japan, China and South Korea are known for being major centers of science and technology. Still, even if a country is a leader in science and technology broadly speaking, troubling signs may exist that the country is falling behind on one of the specific sectors that will define the future.
According to Nature, one of the world’s most respected science journals, in 2018 the United States of America ranked as the leading country for scientific research as measured by number of papers published in 82 leading science journals. China, the second place country in the ranking, is growing rapidly in its levels of science research. Germany, the UK and Japan each ranked 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. When it comes to spending for research and development, as of 2018 a similar list puts the US (1), China (2), Japan (3), Germany (4) and South Korea (5).
Importantly, research alone doesn’t paint the full picture. Innovative companies are needed to translate new insights into products which solve real world problems. That can be measured by the number of start-ups with a billion dollar valuation. As would be expected, the US and China have hundreds of such tech start ups, which are valued at over a billion dollars. In contrast, Japan has only three start ups valued at a billion or more.
Judging from these rankings, it would seem that the United States is the undisputed king of the jungle when it comes to science and tech innovation. However, beneath the surface, there are reasons for the US to be concerned. And the biggest is the renewable energy field.
Among major world powers, the US is unique in its high level of climate change deniers, both among the general public and among its top leaders. This factor is inhibiting America’s ability to develop innovative renewable technologies for solving climate change problems and the cost of falling behind could be devastating. In recent years, the US has invested less in renewable energy than both China and Europe. As of 2015, China was the largest spender on renewable energy technology, at $103 billion, which is roughly the same as India, the US and Europe combined.
China’s lead in renewable energy isn’t just in the world of research, but also in the business of converting the research into real products. As of 2017, China had five of the six largest solar module manufacturing firms, the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturing firm, the world’s largest lithium ion manufacturer and the world’s largest electricity utility. China is also investing in renewable energy projects around the world.
Shortly before the recent Madrid climate summit, the UN Emissions Gap report said that China and the EU were both expected to “overachieve their commitments” toward emission’s reductions. That was followed by Spain’s Ambassador at the summit itself, who said, “Today, those who lead [in reducing emissions] are member states of the EU, the EU itself and China.” The US was missing. And the omission is telling. It is a reason for the country to be concerned, despite its great strengths in other areas of innovation.