[R&D Budget] AAAS R&D Budget Update

[Patrick Clemins]

Congress Completes FY2010 Appropriations with $150.5 Billion in R&D
As a result of congressional action on the budget, the federal research and development investment for FY 2010 is an estimated $150.5 billion, $3.5 billion (2.0%) more than FY 2009, not including American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, and $3.0 billion (2.4%) more than the President's request. Congressional action increased defense R&D by $2.5 billion over the proposed cuts in the President's request to $86.5 billion, resulting in a $783 million (0.9%) increase over FY 2009. Non-defense R&D increased by $490 million through Congressional action to $64.0 billion, resulting in a $2.7 billion (4.4%) increase over FY 2009. A summary table by agency, along with detailed agency tables are available at http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/. 

NSB Releases Science and Engineering Indicators 2010
The National Science Board (NSB) rolled out the Science and Engineering Indicators (SEI) 2010 this morning at the White House Conference Center. The National Science Foundation (NSF) released the first SEI in 1972 as required by statute and biennially in even numbered years since then. SEI serves as the authoritative international source on science and engineering statistics including data on workforce, education, public attitudes on science and engineering, and funding. Generally, the trends indicate that while the United States continues to be the world leader in science and engineering, other countries, especially those in East Asia, are dramatically increasing their own investments in science and engineering and closing the gap.

Full Report: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/indicators/
Interactive Digest: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/digest/
AAAS Summary: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/
OSTP Blog: http://blog.ostp.gov/2010/01/15/science-and-engineering-indicators/

OSTP Public Access Policy Forum - Request for Comment extended to Jan 21
Listening to feedback from the public, the Administration has extended the deadline for comment on access to publicly-funded research results, such as those that appear in academic and scholarly journal articles. Currently, the National Institutes of Health require that research funded by its grants be made available to the public online at no charge within 12 months of publication. The Administration is seeking views as to whether this policy should be extended to other science agencies and, if so, how it should be implemented. To that end, OSTP launched an interactive, online discussion on Thursday, December 10. It focuses on three major areas of interest:
Implementation: Which Federal agencies are good candidates to adopt Public Access policies? What variables (field of science, proportion of research funded by public or private entities, etc.) should affect how public access is implemented at various agencies, including the maximum length of time between publication and public release?
Features and Technology: In what format should the data be submitted in order to make it easy to search and retrieve information, and to make it easy for others to link to it? Are there existing digital standards for archiving and interoperability to maximize public benefit? How are these anticipated to change.
Management: What are the best mechanisms to ensure compliance? What would be the best metrics of success? What are the best examples of usability in the private sector (both domestic and international)? Should those who access papers be given the opportunity to comment or provide feedback?
To comment on any of these three topics, go to http://blog.ostp.gov/category/public-access-policy/.

Clean Energy R&D Authorization Bill Introduced
In mid-November, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced the Clean Energy Act of 2009 (S. 2776) which would authorize $800 million a year in clean energy R&D for 10 years. The $800 million per year consists of $50 million for nuclear reactor update and lifetime extension research; $150 million for biofuel R&D (not including ethanol); $150 million for R&D on carbon dioxide capture, storage, conversion, or reuse; $150 million for electric vehicle battery R&D; $150 million for solar energy R&D; and $150 million for R&D on nuclear fuel recycling, including Generation IV nuclear reactors. The bill was originally co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA); Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) signed on as a co-sponsor in mid-December.

R&D Budget and Policy Program's Twitter Feed
Getting impatient between email updates? Take advantage of our Holiday present and stay on top of the FY 2011 budget process with Twitter updates from the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program! The new Twitter feed won't be replacing this email list as the primary outlet for budget information, but instead, will deliver breaking news and information between email updates.  Follow the R&D Budget and Policy Program now at http://twitter.com/AAAS_RDBudget/ so you can be ready for updates during the February Presidential budget release.

Patrick J. Clemins
Director, R&D Budget and Policy Program
American Association for the Advancement of Science
1200 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
T: +1 202 326 6607
E: pclemins at aaas.org
W: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/
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