U.S. Scientific Research and Development 101
Why These Investments Are Key to Our Future Economic Competitiveness
SOURCE: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Where does each dollar of federal R&D
investment end up? Only about a quarter of
the government’s investments in R&D are spent by federal research facilities. Instead, much of it goes to universities and private companies in the form of grants.
Our “charticle” puts the current debate about science and technology budgets into historical context. A few things might surprise you. Click here to download the PDF.
Also see our 200-level lesson in the federal science budgeting process.
Download the charticle (pdf)
President Obama this week released his budget proposal to Congress for fiscal year 2012, which begins in October of this year. The president’s budget matches his important State of the Union observation last month that “maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America’s success” with new investment targets for an array of key science and innovation programs. Republicans have mapped out a different strategy, arguing that we need to cut almost all of these science R&D programs in a bid to reduce the federal budget deficit.
The budget debate every fiscal year sparks new questions about how much support the federal government should provide for the critical research and development in science and technology. But in this year of a politically split Congress, the question of “how much” is center stage. Perhaps the better question is not “how much” but “what for?” After all, if policymakers can agree on what has to be done to ensure our future economic competitiveness, then deciding how much to spend should become an easier task.
This “charticle”—a series of charts with accompanying explanations—breaks down U.S. spending on scientific research and development to its key components. The purpose: to enable a meaningful discussion about the kind of investments we need to make as a nation to remain globally competitive in the 21st century.
Download the charticle (pdf)
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