XII A COMPARISON OF SCIENCE POLICY 

 IN THE US AND USSR 



THE SCIENCE POLICY ENVIRONMENT 



In science and technology the United States and 

 the Soviet Union are truly superpowers. The massive 

 scientific and engineering enterprises in motion to- 

 day in the two nations together account for roughly 

 two-thirds of the world's scientific research and 

 development. Both countries have recognized that 

 science and technology play an important role in the 

 improvement of the human condition in their own so- 

 cieties and in the world as a whole. Both countries 

 have recognized that science and technology are fun- 

 damental to their security; and, further, that the 

 foundation for S&T advancement lies in a strong edu- 

 cational system for training scientists and engineers. 



In addition to sharing a strong S&T orientation, 

 the US and USSR exhibit striking similarities in the 

 evolution of their science policies. In both nations 

 R&D has burgeoned after World War II. Each has built 

 within the last three decades an elaborate network of 

 government agencies and special mechanisms to attend 

 to the problems and consequences of scientific and 

 technological advance. Despite different operating 

 conditions and organizational approaches, both coun- 

 tries determine science policy at the apex of the 

 governmental structure. In the US the states parti- 

 cipate in S&T activities in only a minor role. They 

 are neither significant performers nor significant 

 sponsors of R&D, though the states do perform a vi- 

 tal role in funding and maintaining the educational 

 system. In the Soviet Union the republics are more 

 directly in the line of command of the S&T process. 

 Forming the second level of territorial responsibil- 



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