There are strong indications that US R&D is waning, and companies still doing research are finding it more attractive to do that work overseas. Susan Butts, senior director of external science and technology programs at Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, MI) suggests these changes: 1. Modify immigration laws to enable qualified US-edu- 2. cated foreign scientists to remain here. 3. Encourage US universities to do more relevant research in cooperation with industry. Companies often don't want to fund research at American universities because they tend to assert ownership and strong control over inven tions resulting from their work. At the same time, most foreign universities readily assign ownership and/or control of inventions to the corporate sponsors. This encourages research investment in countries with more industry-friendly policies and practices for sponsored research. 4. Be aware that public-private research partnerships that involve high-risk, high-reward technology are on the wane in the US. But, many governments in other developed economies provide direct funding to companies or consortia awarded on a competitive basis.
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