The University of Oregon joined with 250 industry, science, and higher education organizations in calling for stronger federal policies and investment to drive domestic research and development. Partners signed onto a document aimed at federal decision makers and legislators titled “Innovation: An American Imperative." The official release of the document will take place on June 23.  

“Innovation: An American Imperative,” states that the United States is failing to keep pace with competitor nations with regards to basic research and development investments. It notes that the past two decades have seen a steady decline in research and development funding, with the nation falling to 10th place among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries in terms of research investment as a percentage of gross domestic product.

The document calls for an end to federal budget caps on research and development, a permanent and strengthened tax credit for research, and regulation reform. In the field of higher education, the letter called for broad improvement of student achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the STEM fields.

Notable signatories include the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), among many others.