VAST Task Force Issues Report on Challenges Facing Science and Technology Enterprise

Last week, a task force of more than 70 leaders representing science, industry, academia, philanthropy, and the public sector released the Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST) . The report presents a set of comprehensive policy recommendations to recalibrate and optimize the U.S. science and technology enterprise to enable our long-term economic prosperity, address societal challenges, and maintain global leadership.

“I was honored to be invited to bring my perspective to this important work not only as a scientist, but as a citizen and a STEMM nonprofit leader,” said VAST Task Force member and AIP CEO Michael Moloney . “This report lays out recommendations to grow the STEMM workforce, address societal challenges, strengthen public-private partnerships, and unlock new economic opportunities.”

The Vision report identifies several avenues to address challenges facing the enterprise, informed by expertise from VAST’s Task Force members, which includes university presidents, industry pioneers, and former federal and state policymakers. Spearheaded by the nonpartisan Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC), this initiative lays out a bold, strategic roadmap to ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation, including pathways to:

• Unleash the full power and potential of America’s science and technology enterprise by reducing inefficiencies and breaking down barriers that hinder progress today.
• Build and empower the strongest and most adaptable workforce in human history to benefit and sustain our leadership as science and technology innovators.
• Drive breakthroughs, advance global competitiveness, address societal challenges, and strengthen our national security with commitments to fundamental discovery research, applied research, and research infrastructure.

Under each pathway, the Vision report offers recommendations for philanthropy, education, industry, and local, state, and federal governments.

The VAST Task Force was formed in August 2024 and was formally announced in October 2024. In advance of and throughout the presidential transition period, leaders of the task force worked to ensure the policy recommendations laid out in the Vision report were practicable, impactful, and strategically crafted for meaningful implementation over the next five to 10 years.

“We stand at a pivotal moment as global competition intensifies at an unprecedented pace. Strategies built for the time when international competition was far behind will not work in this new era. Luckily, our enterprise possesses the talent, resources, and innovative spirit to lead. VAST’s recommendations will allow us to leverage our significant assets to unlock our enterprise’s full potential while disrupting the inefficiencies that are holding us back,” said Sudip Parikh, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, executive publisher of Science, and chair of the VAST Task Force.

To learn more about the VAST Task Force’s Vision and read their full set of policy recommendations, visit VASTfuture.org .

The Vision for American Science & Technology (VAST) will chart the way for the U.S. science & technology (S&T) enterprise to support America’s global leadership. Drawing from the collective insights and experiences of an unprecedented array of leaders, VAST will empower U.S. decision-makers with a roadmap to ensure the American S&T enterprise remains the vanguard on an increasingly competitive world stage. VAST’s work is supported by the Simons Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Rita Allen Foundation, and the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, with additional in-kind support provided by Research!America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.