WWII and the Rise of US Tech Supremacy: A Tale of Two Science Advisors

Before WWII, the US lagged behind Britain in science and engineering. Post-war, however, the US surged ahead, dominating for 85 years. This dramatic shift stemmed from contrasting approaches by their science advisors. Britain's Lindemann focused on military labs, while Bush, in the US, empowered university labs with massive government funding. This US university-industry-government partnership fueled innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, establishing its technological dominance. Britain's centralized model, conversely, hampered its post-war growth. However, with dwindling US government support for university research, its long reign may be ending.