China’s technological growth is outpacing the United States, posing a potential threat to the US defense industrial base, as per a report by data analytics firm Govini. Despite the U.S. federal government’s nearly $200 billion spending on critical technologies in fiscal 2022, China has managed to exceed the U.S. in the number of granted patents across all critical technology subsegments.
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Key Points:Â
- Govini’s report indicates that China has surpassed the U.S. in granting patents in all critical technology subsegments as of 2022, while U.S.-based companies’ patent numbers have stagnated over the past five years.
- The U.S.’s highest investment in fiscal 2022 was in biotechnology, with a total of $81.3 billion spent.
- According to Bob Work, chairman of Govini, the higher number of patents in China indicates future technological dominance and positions China at the top of the competitive chain.
- The report also finds a heavy dependency of U.S. contractors on Chinese suppliers and investors, with all 12 critical technology areas identified in the report being largely reliant on Chinese supplies.
- U.S. lawmakers have expressed growing concerns over China’s technological dominance. Senator Mark Warner stated that the nation’s national security now extends beyond traditional military strength and into the realm of technology.
