NSF PR 96-80 - December 5, 1996
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Western Europe Keeps Competitive Pressure on U.S.
for Science and Engineering Investment
The European Union gives a high priority to investments
in science and engineering education and research,
according to a newly released Data Brief from the
National Science Foundation (NSF). Building first-class
laboratories, the brief says, is just one of several
ways European investment in civilian research and
development (R&D) approaches the U.S. level. Also,
Europe is overtaking the U.S. in the production of
Ph.D.s in the natural sciences.
"As the capacity to perform R&D expands throughout
the world, it is increasingly important for the United
States to be knowledgeable about the scientific and
technological accomplishments of other world regions,"
says Jean M. Johnson, a senior analyst and author
of the NSF Data Brief. The brief summarizes her forthcoming
Division of Science Resources Studies (SRS) report,
Human Resources for Science and Technology: The
European Region (to be released at the end of
January 1997).
The U.S. is still a world leader in R&D, NSF data
show, but at least one gap is narrowing: The amount
of funds spent on research performed at academic institutions
in Western Europe - about $20 billion in 1992 - now
equals that spent on U.S. campuses. The total combined
R&D investment of Western European countries in
1993 was $103.5 billion, compared to the $137.3 billion
spent by the United States. This represents 2.1 percent
of Western Europe's combined gross domestic production
(GDP), compared to the U.S.'s 2.7 percent.
Over a 17-year period examined in the report issued
by NSF, Western and Central European nations collectively
more than doubled their annual production of first
university degrees (a bachelor's degree or equivalent)
in the natural sciences and engineering (NS&E).
This is a 4.5 percent average annual rate of increase
in NS&E degrees overall, with a slightly higher
rate of increase (5.0 percent) in engineering degrees.
In 1992 Europe produced almost 300,000 NS&E degrees,
compared to 173,000 awarded by U.S. universities and
colleges. Europe and the U.S. would have to combine
their potential human resources for science and engineering
to approach Asia, which awarded just over 523,000
NS&E degrees in 1992.
In 1992, doctoral degrees awarded in NS&E fields
by Western and Central European institutions totaled
25,310, 38 percent above the U.S. level (18,251),
and more than twice as many as recorded for Asian
countries (11,223).
Editors: For the Data Brief, NSF 96-330, see:
http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/databrf/db.htm
For the complete SRS report on the European Region,
NSF 96-316 (due to be released at the end of January
1997), see: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/stats
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