US Senate sees bipartisan support for sweeping legislation to strengthen US R&D, tech production

In a significant development, the U.S. Senate voted 68-32 to approve a sweeping legislative package aimed at boosting the country’s ability to compete with China, with the U.S. Congress seeking to take a tough line on Beijing. The bipartisan measure authorizes around $190 billion in provisions to strengthen U.S. technology and research spending; it will…

NASA scientist pleads guilty to participation in China’s Thousand Talent program

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, a senior NASA scientist has pleaded guilty to lying about his ties to a program that encourages researchers to develop relationships with China in exchange for grants. Meyya Meyyappan, 66, of Pacifica, California, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan. According…

Automakers urge incoming Biden Administration for tax credit, incentives to boost R&D into self driving cars, EVs

On Tuesday, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a major automotive trade association urged U.S. policymakers to back support for electric vehicles (EV), including new incentives to boost up consumer purchases, as well as research and development. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has made boosting electric vehicles a top priority and has pledged to build 550,000 new EV…

Tesla, Uber along with major utilities form lobby group, Zero Emission Transportation Association

In a significant development, a group of major U.S. utilities which includes Uber and Tesla said they are launching a new lobby group which will lobby for national policies to boost the adoption of electric vehicles. The lobby group named Zero Emission Transportation Association, aims to boost the adoption of consumer electric vehicle and encourage…

U.S. Federal Reserve looking at potentially issuing its own digital currency

In a statement, Governor Lael Brainard of the U.S. Federal Reserve stated, the central bank is looking at a broad range of issues surrounding digital currencies and payments, including design, policy and legal considerations around potentially issuing its own digital currency. The development underscores an openness in the possibility of the Federal Reserve issuing its…

IBM’s new battery design reduces cobalt requirements, uses minerals from seawater instead

In a significant breakthrough, International Business Machines Corp stated, it has created a battery design that uses materials extracted from seawater and which does not use cobalt, an expensive mineral. IBM stated, it has partnered with the research wing of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, and battery manufacturer Sidus, for the commercial development of the new design.…