OTA study contends that intellectual, financial, and regulatory challenges from other nations could erode America's global domination
The United States is the world's front-runner in biotechnology because of its strong basic research structure and its ability to convert research into pharmaceutical and agricultural products, according to a report published by Congress' Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) last month.

But the 283-page study, "Biotechnology in a Global Economy," warns that several factors could gnaw away at the U.S.'s competitive edge: the difficulty in getting financing to support biotechnology firms, the lack of uniformity in international intellectual property law, and regulatory delays and undefined policies within the agencies overseeing biotechnology. The report also acknowledges that as countries become increasingly interdependent economically, leadership in the field will become more difficult to assess.

Although various nations have targeted biotechnology as an engine for economic growth, they are still not competitive with the U.S., says...

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