Abstract:From the perspective of the origin and development of national innovation system, this study explores the development road and the key features of the United States as the world science and technology power. It is pointed out that the United States became a world power after a long historical process, and it formed a innovation system characterized by a partnership of government, university, and enterprise after the World War Ⅱ, which has promoted great development of science and technology. At the same time, American science and technology are developing in response to external challenges. This paper holds that the scientific freedom and autonomy, the interaction between basic research and application, and pluralism investment system are the foundation for the United States as the world's scientific and technological power.