The U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce plays a vital role in fostering and sustaining innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security. This workforce currently depends, and for the foreseeable future will depend, on both international and domestic talent. Foreign STEM talent contributes to domestic innovation, economic growth, and U.S. leadership in science and technology and also expands perspectives and networks essential to future scientific collaborations and discoveries.
At the request of the U.S. Department of Defense, this report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and their corresponding scientific, economic, and national security benefits. International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment makes recommendations to improve the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining international students and scholars relative to the programs and incentives other nations use to support national research capabilities, especially in national security and defense-related fields.
Table of Contents
Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Background 3 National Security and Defense Implications of Scientific Research and Foreign Talent 4 Attracting and Retaining Foreign Talent in the United States 5 How Do Other Countries Attract and Retain Talent? 6 The Development and Implementation of Talent Programs in Current Countries of Concern 7 Findings 8 Recommendations References Appendix A: Committee Biographical Information Appendix B: Glossary Appendix C: Foreign Talent Programs That May Pose a Threat to the National Security Interests of the United States Appendix D: United States Incentive Programs Appendix E: United States Incentive Programs Open to Non-U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents Appendix F: Profiles of Foreign-Born Scientists Appendix G: Methodology and Data Sources for Commissioned Papers
