State of Competition
Tracking the shifting balance of power across critical technologies.
Positional Advantage Assessment
Select a published technology to analyze the strategic balance of technological power across our five dimensions of national competitiveness.
Tech Scorecard: Small Modular Reactors
The United States leads in small modular reactor innovation, but China leads in the capacity to build and deploy them. With stronger industrial capacity, workforce, and state backing, China is turning designs into operating reactors faster than America.
1 — Negligible/Nascent | 2 — Emerging/Minor | 3 — Competitive/Mainstream | 4 — Advanced/Leading | 5 — State-of-the-Art/Dominant
Source: SCSP Tech Scorecard 2026
Tech Scorecards
Robotics
The U.S. faces a critical 'robot deficit.' Discover why China is winning the race to automate the 21st century, and the hidden security risks of falling behind.
Autonomous Vehicles
America’s innovation advantage hits the adoption roadblock. U.S. technical superiority is being neutralized by China’s dominance in industrial capacity and a unified national deployment strategy.
Quantum
The United States holds a slight overall lead in quantum, powered by innovation, software, and private capital — but China’s coordinated, state-backed strategy is eroding that edge and already leads in national mobilization.
Biotechnology
The United States leads in biotechnology innovation, commercialization, and talent, but its advantage is narrowing. China’s manufacturing strength and coordinated state strategy could shift the balance by 2030.
Small Modular Reactors
The United States leads in small modular reactor innovation, but China leads in the capacity to build and deploy them. With stronger industrial capacity, workforce, and state backing, China is turning designs into operating reactors faster than America.
Related Work: 2025 Gaps Analysis
Explore our foundational research evaluating the strategic balance of power across 12 critical technologies.
Note: This analysis utilizes an earlier methodology distinct from our current 2026 Tech Scorecard framework.