President Barack Obama’s 2011 budget provides $3.8 billion for nanotechnology research and development, a more than $2 billion dollar increase over 2010 budget of $1.6 billion.
Investment in science and basic research is critical to long-term economic growth. That’s why the Budget invests $61.6 billion in civilian research and development, an increase of $3.7 billion, a 6.4 percent increase, and an amount that continues the commitment to double funding for three key basic research agencies—the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
This funding includes $1.8 billion for research in basic energy sciences to discover novel ways to produce, store, and use energy to address energy independence and climate change and $300 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, to accelerate game-changing energy technologies in need of rapid and flexible experimentation or engineering. The Budget includes increased funding for research to help create the foundation for the industries and jobs of the future, such as nano-manufacturing, advanced robotics, and new tools for the design of biological systems.
Increase Funding for Biomedical Research.
To accelerate progress in biomedical research, the Budget continues to support research both on the campuses of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and for approximately 300,000 scientists and other research personnel at institutions across the country. Investments will focus on priority areas including genomics, translational research, science to support health care reform, global health, and reinvigorating the biomedical research community.
The Budget also includes $6,036 million to continue to expand research related to cancer, and $143 million to expand research related to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Finally, under the President’s Executive Order and subsequent NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research, NIH approved 40 responsibly-derived stem cell lines—nearly double the previous number of lines available—for path-breaking research. Additionally, NIH will pursue the discovery, development, and pre-clinical testing of novel compounds for the prevention and treatment of symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Invests in America’s Innovation and Competitiveness.
The Budget includes $712 million for National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories as part of the President’s Plan for Science and Innovation. This funding will support advanced measurement and standards development at NIST that will facilitate the economy-wide development and adoption of a wide variety of new technologies, ranging from nanotechnology and computer security advances to energy conservation systems.
The Budget also provides $80 million for the Technology Innovation Program, which invests in high-impact research that will address critical national needs and advance innovation. The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership will receive $130 million to enhance the competitiveness of the Nation’s manufacturers by facilitating the adoption of more efficient manufacturing processes.
In addition, the President’s Budget gives the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) full access to its fee collections and will strengthen USPTO’s efforts to improve the speed and quality of patent examinations through a fee surcharge.
Funding Highlights for National Science Foundation:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the key Federal agency responsible for supporting the full breadth of non-biomedical science and technology research at the Nation’s universities and colleges. This basic research and the agency’s high-tech workforce development programs help drive future economic growth and the creation of high-wage jobs for American workers. The Budget fully funds the President’s Plan for Science and Innovation by providing NSF with $552 million over the 2010 enacted level, and maintains the Administration’s commitment to doubling funding for key basic research agencies.
• Provides $7.4 billion for the National Science Foundation, an 8 percent increase over the 2010 enacted level, as part of the President’s Plan for Science and Innovation.
• Drives the creation of the industries and jobs of the future by doubling funding for multidisciplinary research targeted at next-generation information and biological technologies.
• Provides $19 million in graduate and undergraduate fellowships and scholarships for a joint initiative with the Department of Energy to inspire tens of thousands of American students to pursue careers in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship related to clean energy.
• Creates a new $766 million, cross-agency sustainability research effort focused on renewable energy technologies and complex environmental- and climate-system processes.
• Increases funding by 14 percent for a new consolidated program aimed at building the science and technology workforce by recruiting and retaining undergraduate students from under-represented groups.
NSF contributions to the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) would increase in fiscal year 2011 by 16 percent to $370 million. The program coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in the global environment and their implications for society.
Funding Highlights for the Department of Energy:
• Supports high-risk, high-payoff transformational research and development projects with $300 million for the recently established Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E).
• Supports and encourages the early commercial deployment of innovative energy technologies with an additional $36 billion in guaranteed loan volume authority for advanced nuclear power plants and an additional $500 million in credit subsidy to support $3 to $5 billion in loan guarantees for innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
• Provides a 4.6 percent, or $226 million, increase in funding at the Office of Science for basic research and world-leading laboratories to support transformational scientific discoveries and accelerate solutions to our Nation’s most pressing challenges.
• Invests $2.3 billion in applied energy research and development to position the United States as the world leader in energy technology that will address climate change, develop new industries, and create new jobs.
• Accelerates the transition to a low-carbon economy through support of development and deployment of clean energy technologies such as solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, nuclear, and low-carbon emission coal power.
• Reduces security risks through major increases in funding for the detection, elimination, and securing of nuclear material and radiological sources worldwide and the maintenance of a safe, secure, and effective nuclear weapons stockpile.
• Continues the Nation’s efforts to reduce environmental risks and safely manage nuclear materials.
The complete budget may be found at the Office of Management and Budget at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/budget.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment