Today, more than ever, the United States faces financial and geopolitical crises that will affect this country's economic strength in the global marketplace for many years to come.

At the same time, we know that innovations in science and technology are what have kept this country strong, safe and prosperous for much of the 20th century. Those of us leading science and technology companies understand that what will keep the United States competitive are continued innovations in chemistry and material science, nanotechnology and biotechnology, and information and alternative-energy technology, to name a few.

We also understand that these innovations can only be possible if we have a work force in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) that is up to the task.

For years, national reports have predicted a diminishing STEM work force. According to a new national survey commissioned by Bayer Corp., we find some of these predictions are now a reality.

More than half of the CEOs and senior executives leading the nation's Fortune 1000 STEM companies polled say their companies already are experiencing a shortage of American-trained STEM talent. Two-thirds say that having greater access to STEM talent is giving their international rivals a competitive edge.

One reason our STEM work force is at risk is because fewer American students are choosing to pursue STEM careers at a time when the current work force is aging. Another is because, as a country, we haven't done a good job of tapping the talent of women, African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians.

One solution to our work force and competitiveness problems, the executives say, is to bring more of these underrepresented groups into STEM fields.

Today, women and minorities comprise about two-thirds of the country's work force. New U.S. Census projections say minorities will make up a majority of the population by 2042 -- much earlier than previously thought. Already in some communities, minorities make up most of the under-20 population.

That means that increasing the number of women, African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians in STEM disciplines is now a national imperative.

The senior executives polled in the survey share this view. They recognize the benefits of diversity and what it brings to their companies. Yet many acknowledge that underrepresentation exists in their companies and their industries, and they recognize it for the manpower problem it is.

What do we do about it?

This is precisely where we, as STEM industry professionals, have an opportunity to step up and help lay the building blocks for the future. And this is why I am challenging my STEM industry colleagues here in Pittsburgh to get involved. We have a responsibility to support programs that are educating the next generation of innovators -- a fact with which almost all of the Fortune 1000 executives polled concur.

There are a number of exemplary programs at all points along the education continuum that are helping to close achievement gaps between male and female and majority and minority students. These programs need the support of industry to help grow and replicate in other communities.

Here in Pittsburgh and throughout Pennsylvania, we're fortunate. The Achieving Student Success Through Excellence in Science Teaching (ASSET) program, active in our local schools for more than 15 years, is in the process of being rolled out throughout Pennsylvania as part of Gov. Ed Rendell's, "Science: It's Elementary" initiative. In addition, the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Kinetic City is an after-school science and math program that is inclusive of all students and has been successfully replicated.

Notable secondary-level examples include Project SEED, the American Chemical Society's 40-year-old signature program that gives high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds eight-to-10-week summer-internship opportunities in industry, government and/or academic laboratories; Project Lead the Way, a pre-engineering curriculum that is being implemented in local school districts nationwide; and the Junior Engineering Technical Society, a 50-year-old nonprofit organization that excites high-school students about engineering careers with its TEAMS and National Engineering Design competitions.

To help industry leaders support these and other fine programs, Bayer is making available two companion resource guides. The first is a compendium of best-practice elementary and secondary STEM education programs and the second is a how-to guide that offers practical advice about creating business-education partnerships. These guides are available online at www.bayerus.com/MSMS.

Diversity is one of America's greatest strengths. It built this country into the powerhouse it is. Today we must continue to embrace our national heritage of diversity for this very same reason. For industry leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this is our challenge for the 21st century.