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Dr. Press. Right. So I think you'll find no problems with us on 

 that point of view. 



With respect to what do we mean by world-class, we mean good 

 enough so that if a development occurs in an important area, we 

 could very rapidly be up to speed and see that our country exploits 

 it as well as anybody else. 



The example that was given in the original report that made that 

 recommendation is the discovery of high-temperature super-con- 

 ductivity in Europe by two European scientists. 



Because we weren't the best in the world at that time, but we 

 were pretty good, world-class 



Mr. Olver. We were not pre-eminent. But were we world-class 

 at that time? 



Dr. Press. We were good because 



Mr. Olver. We could take advantage of them, then. 



Dr. Press, (continuing) — in three- to six-months, we were up to 

 speed, as good as anybody, perhaps even the best in the world. The 

 government responded rapidly. There were centers in Houston and 

 UC Berkeley, at MIT, I think in your neck of the woods, Marye 

 Anne. 



Mr. Olver. Let me play from that. 



Dr. Press. So we recovered very fast. We were poised to pounce, 

 as we say, and we did pounce. 



Mr. Olver. How many other places were capable of pouncing, as 

 you've put it? At that point, when that discovery was made, as a 

 good scientific example, how many nations in their science and 

 technology establishments were in a position at that point to be 

 able to do what we were able to do? 



Dr. Press. I would say Japan, the United States, and Germany. 



Mr. Olver. Okay. So that's three. Are there any cases where you 

 would expect that there would be more than maybe five that would 

 be in a world-class position? 



Dr. Fox. It would depend on the area. 



Mr. Olver. That's obvious. 



Dr. Fox. For example, if one shifts to ecology, one will find dif- 

 ferent countries with different strengths than you would in, let's 

 say, high-temperature 



Mr. Olver. But is there any one field where you think there are 

 more than five countries that are in that position, to be able to 

 pounce, as you put it, because I think that's at least close to a good 

 analogy? 



Is there any place where there's more than five? 



Mr. Mahoney. Well, I think you've named the right number at 

 five. 



Mr. Olver. Five. 



Mr. Mahoney. I was going through. Pharmaceuticals, for exam- 

 ple 



Mr. Olver. Is there any major field where we are not already 

 world-class in one of that five that would be able to pounce? 



Mr. Mahoney. Well, there are sub-segments of all kinds of 

 things. In the general sense, in pharmaceuticals, for example, you 

 have the leading countries of research — the United States, UK, 

 France, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. 



Mr. Olver. There might be seven there. 



