I am working for a high tech company and graduated from a top university with a PhD in EE. While I am doing the research, I noticed most good papers are from China, not too many from Taiwan, Singapore and Korea. These papers have the following qualities: (1) easy to understand, (2) strong math background, (3) rigor experiments, and (4) in-depth substance.
1996, I accompanied a joint venture partner to tour our refrigerator and washing machine manufacturing facilities. The senior executive of that company is very interested in the conveyor system hanging over our heads. 3 months later, I visited its manufacturing facility, he told me that he learned this idea from that trip to our facility! It only took 3months to make an change!(it was a big project!)
United States falls behind in term of industrial capabilities simply because their salaries are too high up. It is unsustainable when the same products are product in United States. Not only that, the influx of World capital to join the United state stock market abd also the dominance of US Dollar also produce the support for high salary for other other demanding jobs in United States. However this phenomenon is kept undisturbed would only destroy the industry of United States.