International Assessment of Research and Development in Simulation-Based Engineering and Science. Panel Report

Abstract : This report assesses international research and development in the field of Simulation-Based Engineering and Science (SBES and in the crosscutting issues of next generation hardware and algorithms; software development; engineering simulations; validation, verification, and uncertainty quantification; multiscale modeling and simulation; and SBE&S education. The panel hosted a U.S. baseline workshop, conducted a bibliometric analysis, consulted numerous experts and reports, and visited 59 institutions and companies throughout East Asia and Western Europe to explore the active research projects in those institutions, the computational infrastructure used for the projects, the funding schemes that enable the research, the collaborative interactions among universities, national laboratories, and corporate research centers, and workforce needs and development for SBE&S. The panel found that SBE&S activities abroad are strong, and compete with or lead the United States. Inadequate education and training of the next generation of computational scientists and engineers threatens growth of SBE&S. A persistent pattern of subcritical funding overall for SBE&S threatens U.S. leadership and continued needed advances, while a surge of strategic investments in SBE&S abroad reflects recognition by those countries of the role of simulation in advancing national competitiveness and its effectiveness as a mechanism for economic stimulus. Key findings in the three thematic domain areas of the study and in the crosscutting areas and technologies that support SBE&S reinforce these overarching findings in specific ways.