Plucking STEMs: New Report Offers Recommendations for Cultivating Global Talent for U.S. Defense
(Arlington, VA) The National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI) and the Institute for Progress (IFP) have released a new paper offering insights into how foreign-born talent can be leveraged in the Department of Defense and defense industrial base’s STEM workforce. The report "Strengthening the National Security Innovation Base Requires International STEM Talent", was published on December 20, 2024.
ETI and IFP’s research focused on current challenges facing the DoD and DIB STEM workforce as well as illustrating the role of foreign-born STEM talent in both defense and the U.S.’ overall S&T enterprise. The report proposes potential paths forward for better harnessing the U.S.’ position as a desired location for international STEM talent.
The report offers nine recommendations intended to alleviate STEM workforce challenges by better leveraging U.S.-based foreign-born talent, including:
- Scale DoD programs that allow foreign citizenship participation.
- The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD (R&E)) should include India as a country that can be awarded DoD scholarships and fellowships.
- The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD (R&E)) should work with its academic partners to encourage foreign nationals to conduct non-classified research at University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC) or other organizations while they are becoming naturalized.
- Continue to use National Interest Waivers for Second Preference Employment-Based EB-2 Green Cards.
The full report is available for download at https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/research-papers/hsi
Contact:
Rachel Sutherland, Director of PR & Communications
rsutherland@NDIA.org
About ETI
The National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI) performs research, hosts events, and bolsters public awareness through educational products and webinars focused on defense technology modernization and innovation.
The Institute for Progress (IFP) is a non-partisan think tank focused on innovation policy. IFP works to accelerate and shape the direction of scientific, technological, and industrial progress. Headquartered in Washington D.C., IFP works with policymakers across the political spectrum to make it easier to build the future in the United States