U.S. policymakers are likely to focus on competing with China’s tech ambitions next year after having attempted the contain the sector in the Asian nation over the last decade, according to analysts at Jefferies.
In a note to clients, the strategists including Aniket Shah and Charles Boakye argued that Beijing has secured "dominance" across the tech industry. They added that the tech rivalry between the U.S. and China now constitutes "the most important question shaping geopolitics over the next few decades."
Against this backdrop, the analysts predicted that "2026 will mark a turning point in the U.S.’s posture -- from attempts of containment, to tech-competition across several fronts."
Washington could focus on industrial policy and look to coordinate with "key players including universities [and] national labs" on its response to China’s emergence as a tech powerhouse, they added.
Evidence of this drive was seen last week, when U.S. President Donald Trump established through an executive order a national initiative to accelerate scientific discovery through artificial intelligence, the analysts said. Under the plan, which is known as the Genesis Mission, the Department of Energy will lead the development of a new platform aimed at unifying resources across labs, public science, and private-industry partners like tech companies.
Research workflows in cutting-edge areas such as advanced materials, biotechnology, and quantum computing would be accelerated by the proposal, with the timelines for the discovery and commercialization of new technologies shortened.
Source : Investing.com