University of Arkansas Participating in 'Close the Innovation Deficit' campaign

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One year after launching a campaign to urge Congress and the president to close the nation’s innovation deficit, a group of prominent university, scientific and business organizations have renewed their call for increased federal investments in research to build a strong long-term economy, improve medical treatments and strengthen national security.

The “Close the Innovation Deficit” campaign, designed to raise awareness of cuts and stagnating federal investments in research and higher education, began on July 31, 2013, with an open letter to President Obama and Congress signed by more than 200 university presidents and chancellors, including University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart.

The letter described the innovation deficit and called on leaders to close it with investments in research and higher education that would help the United States remain a global leader. The innovation deficit is considered to be the widening gap between actual and needed federal investments in research and higher education at a time when other nations such as China, India, and Singapore are dramatically boosting research funding to develop the next technological and medical breakthroughs.

Over the last 10 years, research and development expenditures as a share of economic output have remained nearly constant in the United States, but have increased by nearly 50 percent in South Korea and nearly 90 percent in China, according to figures from the National Science Foundation.

“We are very appreciative of the members of our congressional delegation from Arkansas,” said Jim Rankin, vice provost for research and economic development at the University of Arkansas. “With their help, the university has made strides in research funding in the last decade, which contributed to the institution being elevated to the highest possible classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

“Our faculty, through funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, are making discoveries that will benefit society in years to come. But we could be doing so much more with increased federal investment in University of Arkansas research,” he said.

As Congress prepares to break for its August recess, leaders from those organizations supporting the campaign have renewed their nationwide effort to communicate the need to close the innovation deficit.

In addition to asking members of Congress to secure more research and development funding for U.S. institutions, the campaign also has a website at which more information can be found.