Don’t quit the long game

Abstract

Living cells that produce biofuel; robots that assist factory workers; intelligent machines that guide drug discovery—these technologies are “deep” in that they achieve something extraordinary—often thought impossible—and push society forward. Indeed, so-called “deep tech” powers the future of medical breakthroughs, resilient energy grids, and clean industrial processes, among other frontiers. But deep tech requires more of everything to become a reality—research and development, specialized talent, time, risk-taking, and funding. The US government has been the world’s largest investor in this enterprise. Yet cuts to federal support for deep tech threaten this entrepreneurial engine at its source—university labs. Without sustained federal support, the country risks losing its technological edge, threatening economic competitiveness and national security.