Direct Levers of Power

Lever Description Example Policy Instruments Strategic Goals Impacted Notes
Competition Policy Influences market structure and firm incentives to innovate. Balances IP protections with antitrust measures to maintain optimal competition levels. Intellectual property laws, antitrust laws 1 Striking the right balance is crucial; too much or too little competition can hinder innovation1.
Controls Restricts flow of capital, goods, and services between countries to impede adversaries' progress or protect national interests. Export controls, sanctions, investment screenings, foreign ownership restrictions 2 Effectiveness often depends on multilateral cooperation; can have unintended consequences1.
Funding and Investment Supports desired activities through financial resources, driving innovation and shaping technological development. Research grants, subsidies, loans, internal R&D programs 1 Can be targeted to specific sectors or technologies; important to balance short-term and long-term investments1.
Immigration Policy Impacts flow and prospects of foreign nationals, affecting the talent pool for technological innovation and national security. Visa programs, naturalization requirements 1, 2 Can significantly impact the domestic talent pool; consider potential brain drain effects on other countries1.
Infrastructure Constructs and maintains foundational systems and resources to enable technological advancement and economic growth. Public works, transportation, compute resources, research centers 1, 3 Long-term investments that can have wide-ranging impacts; consider future technological needs1.
Procurement Government purchase of goods and services, influencing market demand and technological standards. Production guarantees, contracts, requirements, product bans 1, 2, 3 Can be used to create or shape markets for emerging technologies1.
Statutes, Regulations, and Standards Legal rules governing products, systems, and entities to ensure safety, ethics, and alignment with national values. Consumer safety laws, governance frameworks, standards regimes, auditing, insurance and liability 2, 3 Balance between promoting innovation and ensuring safety is crucial; can shape technological development trajectories1.
Taxes and Trade Shapes behavior through tax incentives and trade policies, influencing innovation, economic competitiveness, and international relations. Tax credits, tariffs, multilateral agreements, import quotas, antidumping penalties 1, 2, 3 Can be used to incentivize specific behaviors or industries; consider potential retaliatory measures from other countries1.
Workforce Development Improves knowledge, skills, and opportunities of workers to support technological innovation and economic growth. Education policies, training programs, scholarships, civil rights, organized labor 1, 3 Long-term investment in human capital; consider evolving skill needs in emerging technologies1.

Strategic Goals:

  1. Drive Technological Innovation
  2. Impede Adversaries' Progress
  3. Promote Safe, Values-Driven Deployment

Enabling Levers of Power (Amplifier)

Lever Description Example Policy Instruments
International Coalitions Enhances policy effects through allied cooperation, amplifying the impact of national strategies on a global scale. Formal alliances, informal coalitions
Place-Based Policies Amplifies effects at local level, targeting specific regions to boost innovation and economic development. Innovation hubs, regional economic incentives
Information Sharing Promotes collective action through knowledge dissemination, enabling better-informed decision-making across sectors. Data repositories, agreements
Convening Brings together actors to address issues, facilitating collaboration and coordinated action on complex challenges. Summits, strategic dialogues

Enabling Levers of Power (Planning & Monitoring)

Lever Description Example Policy Instruments
Research, Analysis, and Intelligence Informs policymakers on current state and trends, enabling data-driven decision-making and strategy formulation. Data collection, benchmarking, modeling
Portfolio Management and Bundling Diversifies investments and policies to mitigate risks and optimize outcomes across various initiatives. Diversification strategies

Summary of Direct and Enabling Levers of Power for Technology and National Security

Lever of Power Type Description Example Policy Instruments Strategic Goals Addressed
Competition Policy Direct Aims to influence the type and trajectory of innovation across industries by managing the level of competition in key markets.1 Intellectual property laws, antitrust laws2 Drive innovation1
Controls Direct Seeks to restrict the flow of capital, goods, and services between countries to impede adversaries' progress.3 Typically achieved by limiting access to specific products and resources or curtailing participation in the global economy.3 Sanctions, export controls, end-user lists, and investment screenings3 Impede adversaries' progress3
Funding and Investment Direct Uses financial resources to support desired activities, particularly driving technological innovation.4 The government provides financial resources for various activities, including research grants, investment programs, loan programs, targeted subsidies, and internal R&D programs.4 Grants, subsidies, loans, internal research and development (IRAD) programs45 Drive technological innovation4
Immigration Policy Direct Impacts the flow of foreign nationals into the United States and their socioeconomic prospects to influence the tech workforce.6 This can be used to drive technological innovation by attracting skilled individuals, particularly in areas like AI.6 Visas, naturalization requirements6 Drive technological innovation, Impede adversaries' progress6
Infrastructure Direct Focuses on constructing and maintaining facilities, systems, and resources that support society and the economy, with the aim of driving innovation and enabling safer technology deployments.7 This lever includes physical infrastructure like roads and power grids, as well as digital infrastructure like research resources.89 Public works, transportation, compute resources, research centers10 Drive innovation, Promote safe deployment7
Procurement Direct Leverages the government's purchasing power to shape markets and influence technology development.9 By directing spending, the government can incentivize innovation, support domestic companies, and promote the adoption of safety and regulatory standards.911 Production guarantees, contracts, requirements, product bans12 Drive innovation, Impede adversaries' progress, Promote safe deployment9
Statutes, Regulations, Standards Direct Establishes legal rules governing products, systems, individuals, businesses, and other entities to promote safe and ethical technology deployment.1113 This includes consumer safety laws, environmental regulations, governance frameworks, insurance schemes, voluntary standards regimes, and legal rights.13 Consumer safety regulations, governance frameworks, standards, auditing requirements, insurance and liability rules12 Promote safe deployment13
Taxes and Trade Direct Utilizes tax codes and trade policies to incentivize desired behaviors and shape the technology landscape.14 This includes tax credits for innovation activities and trade policies that protect domestic industries or restrict adversaries' access to critical technologies.1415 Tax credits, tariffs, multilateral trade agreements, import quotas, antidumping penalties12 Drive innovation, Impede adversaries' progress14
Workforce Development Direct Aims to improve the knowledge, skills, and economic outcomes of US workers, primarily to drive innovation.16 This is achieved through policies like education initiatives, scholarships, training programs, and labor laws.1617 Education policies, scholarships, training programs, civil rights laws, labor laws, minimum wage laws1216 Drive innovation, Promote safe deployment17
International Coalitions Enabling Amplifies the effects of policy instruments by coordinating with allies and partners on an international level.18 Examples include collaborative efforts on export control regimes and joint initiatives to address global challenges.18 Formal alliances, informal coalitions18 Amplifier18
Place-Based Programs Enabling Amplifies the impact of policies by tailoring them to the specific opportunities and challenges of different regions.19 This includes programs that support innovation districts and initiatives that promote economic growth in underserved areas.1920 Innovation hubs, regional economic incentives19 Amplifier19
Information Sharing Enabling Enhances the effectiveness of policies by sharing government data and insights with relevant stakeholders.21 This includes making data publicly available, sharing intelligence with allies, and partnering with private organizations.21 Data repositories, information sharing agreements22 Amplifier21
Convening Enabling Leverages the government's ability to bring together key actors to address issues, share knowledge, and coordinate action.23 This includes summits, strategic dialogues, and other events that focus on specific technology and national security challenges.23 Summits, strategic dialogues23 Amplifier23
Research, Analysis, Intelligence Enabling Provides policymakers with insights and information to make informed decisions about technology and national security.24 This involves data collection, benchmarking, modeling, and other analytical processes to monitor trends and identify emerging challenges.2425 Data collection, benchmarking, modeling, structured analytic methods24 Planning & Monitoring24
Portfolio Management & Bundling Enabling Focuses on diversifying government investments and programs to mitigate risks and enhance resilience.26 This involves strategically allocating resources across different initiatives to avoid overdependence on any single program or approach.26 Diversification strategies22 Planning & Monitoring