Executive Summary Since unveiling its technology policy on February 22, the Clinton-Gore Administration has followed up with concrete actions designed to create jobs, strengthen America's technological and industrial leadership, and boost our standard of living today and tomorrow. In the first 9 months, the Administration has: þ Provided incentives for private-sector research and development and new business formation by extending the R&D tax credit and reducing the capital gains tax for investments in small businesses; þ Developed a National Export Strategy, including the elimination of export controls on computers and telecommunications that will free up $35 billion in high-tech exports; þ Aggressively pursued bilateral and multilateral trade agreements (NAFTA, U.S.-Japan, Uruguay Round) that will expand access to foreign markets for America's high-tech companies; þ Shifted Federal R&D priorities toward civilian technology, with dramatic expansion of initiatives such as the Advanced Technology Program, manufac- turing extension, the Small Business Innovation Research program, and NASA's new Technology Investments Package; þ Promoted defense conversion through the highly successful Technology Reinvestment Project and comprehensive procurement reform; þ Invested in worker skills required for the high-performance workplace of the 21st century and developed an aggressive program for investing in educa- tion and training technologies; þ Developed an action plan for the National Information Infrastructure and ordered the transfer of 200 MHz of spectrum from the Federal Government to the private sector to jump-start new wireless technologies; þ Forged industry partnerships in sectors such as electronics, autos (Clean Car), energy and environment, and advanced transportation; þ Expanded Federal investments in basic research through agencies such as the National Science Foundation; and þ Made better use of information technology a cornerstone of its efforts to "reinvent government," by, for example, moving toward electronic procurement. Collectively, these initiatives will lead to economic growth, the creation of high-wage jobs, a cleaner environment, and a continuation of America's leadership in basic science goals established in the Administration's February 22 statement on technology policy. As noted in that document, the Administration believes strongly that: þ Technology is the engine of economic growth, accounting for over half of America's long-run productivity. þ Leadership in the use and deployment of technology is also essential for the achievement of other national goals, including sustainable development, energy efficiency, an industrial base capable of meeting our national security requirements, and a government that works better and costs less. þ The United States must establish a world-class environment for private- sector investment, given the mobility of capital and technology in today's global economy. For that reason, tax, trade, macroeconomic, regulatory, and human resource policies are all key to making the United States second to none in the commercialization of new technologies. þ The Administration's technology policy will not be successful without the establishment of a genuine partnership with industry, labor, and academia. Given the rapid pace of technological change, government programs will not be successful unless they are tightly coupled to industry requirements. This document outlines the Administration's accomplishments and indicates its plans for the future. The President's technology policy is very much a "work in progress" and the Administration welcomes suggestions for enhancing and accelerating these initiatives.