Chips, biotech, quantum, and drones: Can America innovate security and shared prosperity?

Chips, biotech, quantum, and drones: Can America innovate security and shared prosperity?

From The Source by David Martin Davies

April 27, 2026 · 50 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how innovation in key technology areas is crucial for the U.S. economy and national security.

It’s an essential insight about our world: Innovation drives economic growth. For the U.S. to thrive, it must keep innovating. But how, and in what areas? A new book co-authored by MIT faculty members focuses on key areas where technology advances can drive the economy and support national security. Semiconductors, biotechnology, drones, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing — are all built on U.S. know-how, but these are also areas where the country could be falling behind.

People in this episode

Host: David Martin Davies

Topics covered

  • innovation
  • economic growth
  • national security
  • technology advances
  • semiconductors
  • biotechnology
  • quantum computing

Keywords

  • innovation
  • economic growth
  • national security
  • semiconductors
  • biotechnology
  • drones
  • quantum computing
  • advanced manufacturing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MIT

Products: semiconductors, biotechnology, drones, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing

Places: U.S.

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