| Table
1: Summary of Mechanical Engineering-Related
Programs in the FY 2009 Budget (in millions of dollars)
| | FY 2007 Actual | FY 2008 Estimate | FY 2009 Request |
| Department
of Defense | 12,839 | 12,679 | 11,475 |
| Department
of Energy | 3,640 | 3,940 | 4,829 |
| Department
of Homeland Security | 916.8 | 820.7 | 901.6 |
| Environmental
Protection Agency | 427.8 | 343.5 | 333.9 |
| National
Aeronautics and Space Admin. | 1,239 | 511 | 446 |
| National
Institute of Standards and Tech. | 675 | 673 | 638 |
| National
Institutes of Health | 921 | 911 | 912 |
| National
Science Foundation | 426.1 | 431.7 | 524.1 | Table
2: Detail of Mechanical Engineering-Related Programs in the FY
2009 Budget (in millions of dollars)
| | FY 2007 Actual | FY 2008 Estimate | FY 2009 Request |
Department of Defense (DOD)
| Army | | | |
| Basic
Research (“6.1”) | 353 | 379 | 379 |
| Applied
Research (“6.2”) | 1,189 | 1,175 | 724 |
| Advanced
Technology Development (“6.3”) | 1,254 | 1,337 | 739 |
| Navy | | | |
| Basic
Research (“6.1”) | 482 | 498 | 528 |
| Applied
Research (“6.2”) | 773 | 801 | 633 |
| Advanced
Technology Development (“6.3”) | 751 | 722 | 679 |
| Air
Force | | | |
| Basic
Research (“6.1”) | 395 | 421 | 452 |
| Applied
Research (“6.2”) | 1,115 | 1,170 | 1,044 |
| Advanced
Technology Development (“6.3”) | 1,030 | 664 | 578 |
| Defense
Wide | | | |
| Basic
Research (“6.1”) | 294 | 336 | 339 |
| Applied
Research (“6.2”) | 2,027 | 1,912 | 1,844 |
| Advanced
Technology Development (“6.3”) | 3,175 | 3,264 | 3,536 |
| -
University Research Initiative (non-add) | 275 | 300 | 307 |
| | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total
DOD | 12,839 | 12,679 | 11,475 | Department
of Energy (DOE)
| Office of Science | | | |
| Basic Energy Sciences | 1,221 | 1,269 | 1,568 |
| Advanced Scientific Computing Research | 275.7 | 351.1 | 368.8 |
| Fusion Energy Sciences | 311 | 286.5 | 493.1 |
| Office of Energy Effic. /Renewable Energy | | | |
| Hydrogen Technology | 189 | 211 | 146 |
| Biomass and Biorefinery Systems R&D | 196.2 | 198.1 | 225 |
| Solar Energy | 157 | 168 | 156 |
| Geothermal Technology | 5 | 19.8 | 30 |
| Wind Energy | 48 | 49.5 | 52.5 |
| Vehicle, Building & Industrial Technologies | 340 | 386 | 406 |
| Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, & Tech. | | | |
| Nuclear Energy R&D (includes MOX Fuel) | 300.4 | 258.6 | 629.7 |
| Univ. Nuclear Reactor Infrastructure & Edu. | 16.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Office of Fossil Energy | 580.9 | 742.8 | 754 |
| | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total DOE | 3,640 | 3,940 | 4,829 | Department
of Homeland Security (DHS)
| Science and Technology Directorate | | | |
| Biological and Chemical Countermeasures | 313.5 | 208.0 | 200.4 |
| Border and Maritime | 33.4 | 25.5 | 35.3 |
| Explosives | 105.2 | 77.7 | 96.1 |
| Innovation | 38 | 33 | 45 |
| Laboratory Facilities | 105.6 | 103.8 | 146.9 |
| University Programs | 48.6 | 49.2 | 43.7 |
| Domestic Nuclear Detection Office | | | |
| Research, Development, and Operations | 272.5 | 323.5 | 334.2 |
| (FY 09 combines operations
with R&D) | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total DHS | 916.8 | 820.7 | 901.6 | Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
| Clean Air Research | 95.6 | 99.6 | 96.9 |
| Air Quality Management | 95.5 | 89.4 | 95.5 |
| Climate Change Research | 14.6 | 18.3 | 11.4 |
| Sustainability Research | 24.8 | 22.1 | 19.9 |
| Drinking Water and Water Quality Research | 98.7 | 104.3 | 101.4 |
| Nat’l Ambient Air Quality Stds.
(NAAQS)* | 61.6 | - | - |
| Fellowships | 12.2 | 9.8 | 8.8 |
| | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total EPA | 427.8 | 343.5 | 333.9 | National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
| Aeronautics Technology | | | |
| Aviation Safety and Security | 87 | 66 | 63 |
| Airspace Systems | 102 | 100 | 74 |
| Fundamental Aeronautics | 330 | 270 | 235 |
| Aeronautics Test Program | 74 | 75 | 74 |
| Exploration Systems Research &Technology | 646 | ** | ** |
| | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total NASA | 1,239 | 511 | 446 | National
Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST)
| Scientific & Tech. Res. & Services | | | |
| NIST Laboratories | 434 | 440 | 535 |
| Industrial Technology Services (ITS) | | | |
| Advanced Technology Program (ATP) | 79 | 0 | 0 |
| Technology Innovation Program (ATP) | 0 | 65 | 0 |
| Manufacturing Extension Partnership | 105 | 89 | 4 |
| Construction of Research Facilities | 58 | 79 | 99 |
| | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total NIST | 675 | 673 | 638 | National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
| NIH-wide SBIR/STTR (excl. NIBIB) | 621 | 612 | 612 |
| National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering (NIBIB) | 300 | 299 | 300 |
| | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total NIH | 921 | 911 | 912 | National
Science Foundation (NSF)
| Chemical, Bioeng., Env., & Transport Sys. | 128.3 | 131 | 173.3 |
| Civil, Mechanical, & Manuf. Innovation | 157.3 | 159.8 | 201.9 |
| Engineering Education and Centers | 115.2 | 115.9 | 119.9 |
| Emerging Frontiers in Res. & Innov. | 25.3 | 25 | 29 |
| | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Total NSF | 426.1 | 431.7 | 524.1 | *
Air Toxics Research and NAAQS programs were combined into the Clean Air Research
program in the FY 2008 budget.
** Exploration Systems
Research and Technology (ESRT) and Human Systems Research and Technology (HSRT)
have been combined into a new theme Advanced Capabilities. This new theme consists
of three programs: the Lunar Human Research Program (LHRP), Exploration Technology
Development Program (ETDP), and the Human Research Program (HRP). Introduction Mechanical
engineering research and development spans a very wide range of problems and applications.
Mechanical engineering has a presence virtually in anything involving the design,
manufacture, operation or decommissioning of objects or bodies in motion. As such,
mechanical engineering has a presence from the nano- to galactic scales. This
reflects the fact that mankind is actively engaged in exploration and design across
this entire spectrum. The function of this chapter is to provide the reader with
a sense of the major activity areas in which mechanical engineering R&D may
be found and trends in funding within these areas. In this regard, programs and
initiatives may be highlighted that are not specifically mechanical engineering
focused. It is important to note therefore that the funding requests discussed
represent potential sources of funding for mechanical engineers; they do not represent
the state of federal funding specifically for mechanical engineering. Funding
for application and missions involving mechanical engineering, such as the space
shuttle, do not lie within the purview of this analysis. Where possible, these
distinctions have been highlighted. Department of
Defense (DOD) The
FY 2009 budget for DOD Science and Technology (S&T) accounts is $11.5 billion,
which is a $1.2 billion or 9.5 percent reduction from FY 2008. The reduction reflects
the removal of congressional earmarks by the Administration in this year’s budget
request. The total FY 2009 DOD budget request, which does not include the anticipated
supplemental appropriations for war fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, is $515.4 billion. The S&T portion represents 2.2
percent of DOD’s total budget request. S&T
funds support Basic Research (“6.1”), Applied Research (“6.2”), and Advanced Technology
Development (“6.3”) at DOD. Basic Research would see an increase of $65 million
or 4 percent to $1.7 billion, while “6.2” and “6.3” funding would decline. All
of the service accounts would see an increase in funding for basic research, with
the largest increases going to the Air Force and Navy at 7.4 percent and 6.1 percent,
respectively (see Table 2). The
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is requesting $3.3 billion in
the FY 2009 budget, which is an 11 percent increase over last year’s amount. The
budgets for the University Research Initiative (URI) programs that support graduate
education in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering would see a 2.1 percent increase
to $307 million. Department of
Energy (DOE) The
Department’s budget for FY 2009 reflects priorities to funding basic scientific
research, achieving breakthroughs in advanced energy technologies, and maintaining
commitments to a robust nuclear security program. Mechanical engineering related
R&D lies primarily in four offices: Office of Science ($4.7 billion, up 18.8
percent), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE; $1.25 billion,
down 27.1 percent), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE; $1.4 billion) and Office of
Fossil Energy ($1.2 billion, up 24.6 percent). The NE budget has absorbed $493
million from the Nuclear National Security Administration (NNSA) for the construction
of a Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication (MOX) facility which, when subtracted from the
total request, gives NE an actual decrease of $108 million or 11.2 percent. This
year, the DOE request attempts to restore the funding trajectory mandated in the
America COMPETES Act for the Office of Science. Three programs in the Office of
Science include substantial portions of mechanical engineering related R&D,
and all three are requesting increased funding to support program growth and development.
Basic Energy Sciences (BES) at $1.6 billion would increase by $298 million or
23.5 percent from FY 2008. Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) at $369
million would increase by $17.6 million or 5.0 percent. Fusion Energy Sciences
(FES) at $493 million would increase by $207 million or 72.1 percent. The funding
increases for FES
reflect restored funding for the ITER fusion energy project that was not funded
in 2008. Nuclear
Energy R&D has been reconfigured relative to the FY 2008 appropriation by
eliminating the line item for Fuel Cycle Research and Facilities (FY 2008 $458
million) and combining it with Research and Development (FY 2008 $259 million).
The FY 2009 request for Research and Development is $630 million which is $87
million less than the combined FY 2008 appropriation. This includes increases
for in the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative from $179 million to $301.5 million;
Nuclear Hydrogen from $9.9 million to $16.6 million; and Nuclear Power 2010 from
$133.8 million to $241.6 million. The Generation IV program has been reduced from
$114.9 million to $70 million. For
FY 2009, the total request for EERE is 27 percent less than the FY 2008 appropriated
level. Nearly all of the programs within EERE include substantial portions of
mechanical engineering related R&D. Biomass and Bio-refinery Systems R&D
at $225 million is increased 13.5 percent. Building Technologies at $123.8 million
is increased 13.5 percent. Geothermal Technology at $30 million is increased 50
percent. Hydrogen Technology at $146.2 million is reduced 30.6 percent, although
several of the project reductions were transferred to other programs. A substantial
portion of the EERE cuts come from reduction of non-program related Weatherization
and Intergovernmental Activities to $58.5 million for FY 2009 from $282.2 million,
and the zeroing out of $186.6 million in FY 2008 Congressional Directed Activities.
Under
the FY 2009 budget, the Office of Fossil Energy would see a 24.6 percent increase
over FY 2008 to $1.12 billion. Fossil Energy R&D (FER&D) programs would
increase by a meager $11.1 million or 1.5 percent in FY 2009 as a result of restructuring
the FutureGen project. Clean Coal Technology would also be zeroed out as $149
million would be transferred to the FutureGen project, which instead of constructing
a near zero emissions hydrogen economy and coal fire plant would focus on smaller
scale carbon sequestration projects. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) The
FY 2009 request for DHS is $50.5 billion, a 7 percent increase. The budget continues
to be centered around the five themes established in 2007: protecting the nation
from dangerous people, protecting the nation against dangerous goods, protecting
critical infrastructure, building a nimble emergency response system and culture
of preparedness, and strengthening and unifying DHS operations and management.
While the FY 2009 budget for the Science and Technology Directorate would increase
4.6 percent from $830.1 million to $868.8 million, there are increases and decreases
contained within it. Increases include: border and maritime, 38 percent to $35.3
million; explosive countermeasures, 23.8 percent to $96.1 million; innovation
portfolio, 36 percent to $45 million; and Laboratory Facilities, 41.5 percent
to $146.9 million. Decreases include: chemical and biological countermeasures,
3.8 percent to $200.4 million; and university programs, 12.6 percent to $43.8
million. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) The
FY 2009 request for EPA is $7.1 billion, a slight decrease from $7.4 billion in
2008. Although many programs have been cut, the EPA’s Science and Technology account
would rise slightly from $760 million for FY 2008 to $763 million in FY 2009.
Attempts to determine all of these changes will be ongoing, as certain program
modifications by EPA have altered the function of existing programs. The Climate
Protection Program would receive $11 million, almost $7 million below FY 2008.
The Clean Air Research account would fall to $96.9 million from $99.6 million.
Fellowships also fall slightly to $8.8 million. Sustainability Research would
also fall to $19.9 million for FY 2009, $2 million less than 2008 (see Table 2).
National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) NASA’s
budget for FY 2009 is $17.6 billion, an increase of 2.9 percent over the $17.1
billion provided in the FY 2008 omnibus appropriations act. The Constellation Systems and the
International Space Station program account for a significant portion of the increase
in NASA’s FY 2009 budget. Constellation Systems, which help develop capabilities
and supporting research and technology for human and robotic exploration, would
receive $3.0 billion, an increase of 23 percent or $576 million. The International
Space Station (ISS), which is a joint project with Russia, Japan, Canada, and
several European countries to build a laboratory complex in orbit, would receive
$2.1 billion, a 13.6 percent or $247 million increase (see Table
II-12). Additionally, $285 million is being shifted from the Space Shuttle
program, which is set for retirement in 2010, and being used to fund Space and
Flight Support for ISS. Mechanical
engineering-related research is primarily conducted in the Aeronautics Research
Mission Directorate (ARMD). Aeronautics research would decrease for the fourth
consecutive year. The Administration’s FY 2009 request for ARMD is $446.5 million,
which is a decrease of $65.1 million. The ARMD is charged with funding researching to produce
cleaner, safer, and more efficient aircraft. The budget includes $62.6 million,
a decrease of $3.9 million below FY 2008, for the Aviation Safety and Security
Program; $74.6 million for the Airspace Systems Program, a reduction of $25.5
million; and $235.4 million for Fundamental Aeronautics, a decrease of $34.5 million.
Additionally, ARMD along with the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) are focused on fundamental research challenges to the Next Generation Air
Transportation System (NextGen), which will require new concepts and capabilities.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) The
President’s request for NIST in FY 2009 is $638 million, a decrease of $35 million
or 5.2 percent from FY 2008; however, this amount does not include $82 million
of earmarked funds (see Table 2). Mechanical engineering R&D activities within
the NIST budget request may be found in two areas: the NIST laboratory portion
of the Scientific and Technical Research Services (STRS), and Industrial Technology
Services (ITS). STRS provides the measurement and standards infrastructure to
support advances in technology and manufacturing. ITS consists of the Technology
Innovation Program (TIP) and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(HMEP). The
total FY 2009 budget request for STRS is $535 million. NIST will fund several
new initiatives in the areas of Nanotechnology: Environment, Health & Safety
Infrastructure and Bioscience Measurement & Standards. The
ITS FY 2009 budget request is $4 million, which is a reduction of $146 million.
The $4 million request is for the shutdown of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership (HMEP), however Congress provided HMEP with $89 million in FY 2008
to continue its collaboration with industry to bring products to market. The Administration
would not provide funding for TIP, just as it did not request funding for its
predecessor, the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) in prior years, but Congress
appropriated $65 million in 2008. National Institutes
of Health (NIH) The
total FY 2009 NIH budget request is $29.5 billion, equal to FY 2008. The majority
of NIH institutes and centers will see no increases in funding in FY 2009 (see
Table II-9). Taking into account inflation, the NIH
will actually realize a decrease in funding. The
largest percentage increase in the FY 2009 budget request would go to the NIH
Roadmap for Biomedical Research, also known as the Common Fund which is administered
through the Office of the Director (OD). The Roadmap would receive $534 million
in the FY 2009 budget which is an 8 percent increase over the $496 million appropriated
in FY 2008 (see Table II-10). The importance of engineering
to the health sciences was one of the drivers for creating the NIH Roadmap for
Biomedical Research. Additionally, last year NIH launched Pathways to Independence, a program to support scientist at the beginning of
their research careers which combines research and training awards. The FY 2009
budget request for this program is $71 million, which is substantially more than
the $15 million it was started with last year. The
mission of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
is to improve health by leading the development and application of emerging and
breakthrough technologies based in a merging of the biological, physical, and
engineering sciences. The President’s FY 2009 NIBIB request of $300 million represents
an increase of $2 million or 0.5 percent, which becomes a decrease when inflation
is taken into account. The budget for NIBIB Extramural Research would remain constant
at $273 million while that for intramural research would increase to $10.8 million.
The breakdown for extramural and intramural research within NIBIB is reflective
of NIH’s push to fund extramural research. NIBIB’s Research Management and Support
request is $16.3 million, an increase of $2 million or 12 percent. NIBIB
funds the Applied Science and Technology (AST) program, which supports the development
and application of innovative technologies, methods, products, and devices for
research and clinical application that transform the practice of medicine. The
FY 2009 request for AST is $159.4 million, down $0.6 million. Additionally, NIBIB
funds the Discover Science and Technology (DST) program, which is focused on the
discovery of innovative biomedical engineering and imaging principles for the
benefit of public health. The FY 2009 request for DST is $90.1 million,
also a $0.6 decrease from FY 2008. National Science
Foundation (NSF) The
total FY 2009 NSF budget request is $6.9 billion, an $882 million or 13.6 percent
increase over the $6.0 billion appropriated in 2008 (see Table
II-7). It is worth noting that the 2008 omnibus bill funded NSF at a level
considerably lower than the President’s original FY 2008 budget request of $6.4
billion, which was set at a level commensurate with the intended doubling of the
NSF budget over ten years (starting from 2006). The
request is divided into six appropriation accounts. Research and Related Activities
(R&RA) comprises the dominant part of the total NSF request at $5.6 billion,
reflecting a 16.4 percent increase over the FY 2008 estimate. There are eleven
activities under R&RA, including the Engineering Directorate (ENG). The FY
2009 budget request for ENG is $759 million, a 19.2 percent increase over the
FY 2008 estimate. Noteworthy, $127 million of this $759 million represents the
SBIR/STTR program, which
ENG manages for all of NSF. The request for ENG, less the SBIR/STTR program, is
then $632 million, making it the fifth-largest activity in RR&A. For
FY 2009, ENG will continue to support research and education efforts related to
broad, Foundation-wide priority areas and the Administration’s interagency R&D
priorities, along with three new Foundation-wide priority areas: Adaptive Systems
Technology ($3.5 million), Dynamics of Water Processes in the Environment ($0.5
million), and Science & Engineering Beyond Moore’s Law ($4.0 million). The
following initiatives received increases: Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation
(up 110.1 percent to $16.8 million), Cyberinfrastructure (up 7.1 percent to $60
million), National Nanotechnology Initiative (up 2.2 percent to $140 million),
and Networking and Information Technology R&D (up 45.9 percent to $28.0 million).
Funding for the Climate Change Science Program ($1.0 million) remains level. The
Human and Social Dynamics priority area initiative concluded in FY 2008, with
funds returning to core programs for continued support. All
six divisions of ENG receive increases in the FY 2009 request over the FY 2008
estimate. Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET)
is up 32.3 percent to $173 million; Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation
(CMMI) is up 26.3 percent to $202 million; Electrical, Communications and Cyber
Systems is up 13.0 percent to $94 million; Industrial Innovation and Partnerships
(which houses the SBIR/STTR program) is up 15.8 percent to $141 million; Engineering
Education and Centers is up 3.4 percent to $119.9 million; and Emerging Frontiers
in Research and Innovation is up 16.0 percent to $29 million. While mechanical
engineering continues to participate in programs across these divisions and, indeed,
throughout the Foundation, traditional mechanical engineering research will principally
lie in CBET and CMMI. |
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