[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[July 30, 1992]
[Pages 1207-1209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



White House Fact Sheet: The Bush Administration's Policies for an 
American Technological Revolution

July 30, 1992
    The President today met with the scientists, management, and workers 
at the world's largest science and engineering project, the 
superconducting super collider (SSC). He reaffirmed his continuing 
strong support of the Federal investment in this unprecedented 
scientific undertaking which will provide broad societal benefits.

The Problem

    Technological innovation is essential to sustained economic growth. 
Those nations that innovate most successfully will compete best in an 
increasingly integrated global economy.
    International competitiveness requires needed investments in basic 
research and efficiently commercializing the results of that research. 
It involves a technology policy that recognizes the important role of 
entrepreneurs and the need for flexibility in deploying resources to 
their most efficient uses.

The Bush Administration Principles

    Since 1989, President Bush has aggressively pushed a strong science 
and technology agenda, and he has proposed devoting an unprecedented 
level of resources to R&D.
    The President's science and technology agenda relies on six basic 
principles:
    The private sector must be free to determine its own research 
priorities;
    The Federal Government must promote sound tax policies that 
stimulate private

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sector investment in R&D and technological innovation;
    The Federal Government must assure that its regulations do not 
impede firms from developing products or from bringing safe, new 
products to market;
    The Federal Government must support a strong program of basic and 
applied R&D which provides broad societal benefits;
    The Federal Government must work cooperatively with the private 
sector in the development of generic or enabling technologies;
    Federally funded technology must be transferred swiftly and 
effectively to the private sector for commercialization.
    The President has taken these six principles and developed a 
comprehensive strategy for enhancing America's technology prowess and 
competitiveness. It includes:
    Opening up foreign markets to U.S. goods;
    Accelerating technology transfer;
    Investing in the future: Strengthening our knowledge base and 
increasing Federal support for emerging technologies;
    Educating our students for a world of technology;
    Coordinating with the private sector in consortia and other 
arrangements to develop generic or enabling technologies;
    Stimulating private sector R&D through sound tax policies; and
    Promoting technology through a sound regulatory system.

Opening Up Foreign Markets to U.S. Goods

    The U.S. remains the world leader in the export of scientific and 
technological knowledge. Our high-tech exports have increased by two-
thirds since 1987, and we enjoy a $37 billion trade surplus of high-tech 
exports with the rest of the world. The President is determined to 
maintain this position by opening new foreign markets and by protecting 
the intellectual property rights of those on the leading edge of 
scientific and technological innovation.
    1. Bilateral Agreements With Japan. The administration has opened 
Japanese markets to U.S. high-tech goods through trade agreements 
covering supercomputers, satellites, semiconductors, and amorphous 
metals.
    2. Intellectual Property Rights in the Uruguay Round. The 
administration is currently negotiating to ensure that the U.S. science 
and engineering base is protected from foreign pirating of technology.
    3. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The administration 
is completing the negotiations on the NAFTA which will open new 
opportunities for American exporters and the free flow of investment 
capital into the technologically intensive fields of the environment, 
medicine, agriculture, electronics, and telecommunications.
    4. U.S./Asia Environmental Partnership. This unprecedented coalition 
of U.S. and Asian government units, businesses, and community groups is 
working together to enhance Asia's environment. This will result in the 
greater export of American technological know-how and equipment.

Accelerating Technology Transfer

    The Federal Government has invested billions of dollars in creating 
the world's finest, most advanced research laboratories. This valuable 
national resource can assist civilian research efforts to investigate 
and develop commercially viable technologies.
    Technology Transfer. The FY 1993 budget proposes a significant 
increase in technology transfer activities, including almost 1,500 
cooperative research and development agreements (CRADA's) between 
Government laboratories and private industry, an increase of 60 percent 
over the past 2 years; approximately 4,500 new invention disclosures; 
2,000 patent applications; and almost 300 technology licenses awarded.
    The Administration's National Technology Initiative. Ten conferences 
have been held across the country, and five more are scheduled between 
now and December 1, 1992. These conferences act as catalysts for 
creating new partnerships among Government, universities, and American 
companies to better translate new technologies into marketable goods and 
services. A list of the conferences is attached.
    Expanding the Role of the National Laboratories. The FY 1993 budget 
proposes that national laboratories play a greater role in high priority 
areas of civilian applied

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R&D by helping to form R&D consortia and other collaborative 
arrangements led by industry and academia.