'By and large, these young people were not educated in the United States like many of their fathers -- at MIT, Cal Tech, or Rennselaer, for example -- but at the Indian Institutes of Technology.'

Hightower noted there are 'projections that place the United States in fourth place over the next 15-20 years in terms of consumerism, manufacturing capacity, and the growth of an entrepreneurial base that keeps pace with new global developments and delivery systems.'

'This forecasted outcome, to my way of thinking, is unacceptable,' he said stressing 'we must re-establish the primacy of the United States as the world leader in innovation, creativity and excellence across the global economic spectrum.

'If America expects to lead, we must put our best minds on the toughest problems -- reforming the way America uses healthcare, consumes energy and educates our children,' Hightower said.

'America must now act with a renewed sense of urgency' he said, as 'our global competitors are neither standing still nor shy about taking action to exert their global economic ambitions'.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)