Environment: May 30, 2023

Environment and Climate Industry Study 2023

The Environment and Climate Industry Study has sought to assess U.S. and international competitiveness in the environment/climate sector(s) of business, within the context of national security, broadly defined. The Environment/Climate industry is – as its label suggests, but also as a function of the numerous constituent industries that comprise it – essentially an industry of industries. Considering its long-standing presence and the many corporate mergers and acquisitions that have basically run their course, it is a mature industry. And, by virtue of its global reach; its contributions to national interests, aims, and priorities; and its measurable impact on the economy, it is truly a strategic industry. Although U.S. firms are at the forefront of the environmental sector, the United States is, at best, a mid-tier player compared to other countries in terms of overall national environmental performance. As such, this study concludes that for the United States to prevail strategically and keep healthy competition from devolving into unhealthy conflict, public- and private-sector decisionmakers alike must undertake a number of potentially transformative policy reforms.

Finance (formerly Financial Services): May 30, 2023

Limitations of the U.S. Finance Industry in an Increasingly Multipolar World

The United States’ (U.S.) finance industry is a mosaic of highly regulated entities that generate trillions in revenue. Those revenues ripple across the U.S. and the global economies and become the foundation for capital investments into infrastructure, education, social welfare, and national defense. The United States occupies a unique position in the world order due, in large measure, to its robust financial markets and the singular attributes of the U.S. dollar. U.S. financial strength enables the pursuit of domestic and global objectives by leveraging the four primary instruments of power – diplomatic, informational, military, and economic.

Organic Industrial Base: May 30, 2022

Reimaging the OIB of the Future

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China’s emergence as a near-peer competitor, the nation faces a critical inflection point. The Department of Defense (DoD) can innovate and embrace technologies and processes to strengthen industrial base effectiveness or continue to rely on legacy processes that struggle to keep pace with competitors.

Oct. 16, 2017

Embracing The Future: How To Capitalize on Advanced Manufacturing

The United States (U.S.) must revitalize its manufacturing base to maintain national security and economic competitiveness in an era of great power rivalry and technological change. This study by the Eisenhower School’s Industry Study on Advanced Manufacturing (AM) argues that AM technologies—spanning additive manufacturing, advanced materials, industrial artificial intelligence, robotics, the internet of things, digital threads, accelerated computing, advanced modeling and simulations, and augmented reality / virtual reality—are essential for restoring America’s industrial capacity and ensuring the agility and resilience of the defense industrial base (DIB). Today, while the U.S. retains global leadership in innovation and high-end research and development, its production capabilities, especially in defense-critical sectors, face severe constraints due to aging infrastructure, dwindling small and medium manufacturers (SMM), brittle supply chains, and persistent workforce shortages. The Department of Defense (DoD) remains heavily reliant on a fragile network of these SMM, which often lack access to the capital and expertise required to adopt AM technologies. Comparative analysis with China, Russia, and France highlights the strategic urgency. China’s top-down, state-driven “Made in China 2025” initiative has rapidly scaled industrial innovation centers and digital infrastructure. Russia, despite limited capacity, demonstrates how unmodernized defense manufacturing struggles to support sustained conflict. France offers a middle path, emphasizing sustainability, workforce training, and regional industrial policy.