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HIGHLIGHTS
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) research budget would increase
by 3.6 percent to a level of $4.2 billion, but the President's budget
request falls far short of the amount authorized in the NSF authorization
bill signed into law in 2002 (see Table II-7).
- Although NASA's overall R&D budget would increase by 3.9 percent,
some NASA Enterprises, such as Aeronautics, would see large cuts in their
R&D budgets (see Table II-12).
- The Department of Defense Science & Technology budget ('6.1'-'6.3'
plus medical) would see a 15.5 percent cut, to a level of $10.5 billion,
with Applied Research (12.3 percent) and Advanced Technology Development
(14.6 percent) taking the brunt of the cuts (see Table
II-2).
- The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) continues to be one of
the bright spots in electrotechnology R&D funding with a $21 million
increase over FY 2004 to a level of $982 million (see Table
I-10).
- Research and development at the Department of Energy Office of Science,
the largest federal supporter of electrotechnology basic research in the
United States, would decrease by $14 million (see Table
II-11).
- The Department of Homeland Security's R&D would increase by 15.5
percent to $1.2 billion (see Table II-20).
INTRODUCTION
The following chapter is a broad summary of the Bush Administration's
proposed FY 2005 funding levels for select electrotechnology R&D programs
at the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, the Departments of Energy
(DOE), Defense, Homeland Security (DHS), and Commerce and two multi-agency
initiatives-the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) and the Networking
and Information Technology Research and Development Program (NITRD). The
budget figures contained in this analysis are expressed in current dollars
and are based on data provided by the federal agencies at the release
of the Administration's FY 2005 budget
Electrotechnology research and development, like most other aspects of
science and technology R&D, is feeling the squeeze of budget deficit
restraints and election year politics in the FY 2005 President's budget
request. Funding for most agencies is flat, decreasing, or increasing
only slightly.
NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (NNI)
Nanotechnology, as classified by the federal government, must satisfy
three requirements. It must involve:
a) "Research and technology development at the atomic, molecular
or macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1-100 nanometer
range;"
b) "Creating and using structures, devices and systems that have
novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate
size;" and
c) "Ability to control or manipulate on the atomic scale."
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) is a multi-agency nanotechnology
research initiative conducted at a total of ten federal agencies. The
National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Department
of Energy, the National Institutes of Health and NASA are the agencies
with the most significant investments in nanotechnology research.
Nanotechnology has broad support in Congress and the Administration. In
December 2003, President Bush signed into law the 21st Century Nanotechnology
Research & Development Act, which authorizes $3.7 billion for nanotechnology
R&D for FY 2005-2008. Funding in the President's budget request would
increase by 2.2 percent over FY 2004 to a level of $982 billion, reflecting
a $21 million increase (see Table I-10). NSF
would remain the leading agency for nanotechnology R&D, and it would
receive a 20.1 percent increase to $305 million. DOD totals, on the other
hand, would drop by $39 million. (For full information on NNI, please
see Chapter 25.)
NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
(NITRD)
Another multi-agency research program of considerable importance is the
Networking and Information Technology R&D Program (NITRD). Chartered
in 1991 as a collaboration of federal agencies involved in fundamental
high-end computer research, seven federal agencies participate in NITRD,
including the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Science Foundation
(NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, the Department of Commerce,
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The NITRD budget will essentially remain even for FY 2005, at $2.0 billion,
retaining the High End Computing (HEC) program as the initiative's main
priority. According to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP),
the HEC will also work with the High End Computing Revitalization Task
Force (HECTRF), created by participating agencies in FY 2003, to "develop
an interagency R&D roadmap for high-end computing technologies."
(For full details of NITRD, please see Chapter 24.)
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD)
In response to "lessons learned" from the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq, and the ongoing fight against terrorism, the Department of Defense
has renewed its emphasis on "defense transformation and force modernization,"
according to the President's budget request. One of the key ways the DOD
plans to achieve this transformation and modernization is by increasing
defense capabilities through advanced technology, such as precision weapons,
unmanned vehicles and state-of-the-art communications systems without
necessarily increasing troop levels. This goal will be accomplished in
large part through DOD's Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E)
program.
The RDT&E appropriation provides funding for future military hardware
and software and their underlying technologies, covering the full spectrum
of R&D from the most basic research to advanced, full-scale, military
systems development. RDT&E collectively consists of seven budget activities:
Basic Research ('6.1'), Applied Research ('6.2'), Advanced Technology
Development ('6.3'), Advanced Component Development ('6.4'), Systems Development
and Demonstration ('6.5'), Management Support ('6.6'), and Operational
Systems Development ('6.7'). RDT&E is the federal government's single
largest research and development account.
Consistent with this renewed emphasis, RDT&E would receive a $4.3
billion, 6.6 percent increase over FY 2004 to a level of $68.9 billion
(see Table II-2). However, as with the FY 2004
RDT&E budget levels, all of the increase would go to only two of the
seven activities. This year, the two winners are Advanced Component Development
('6.4') and Systems Development and Demonstration ('6.5').
Particularly, Basic Research ('6.1'), Applied Research ('6.2'), Advanced
Technology Development ('6.3') and Medical Research, known collectively
as Science and Technology (S&T), would take a significant hit in the
FY 2005 budget with a 15.5 percent, $1.9 billion cut. Basic Research would
fall by 5.3 percent, or $74 million, to a level of $1.3 billion. Applied
Research would take an even bigger hit, falling 12.3 percent, or $545
million, to $3.9 billion. Total S&T funding levels would be $10.6
billion. Basic research in the Army would be cut by $64 million and the
Navy by $7 million, but the Air Force would increase its '6.1' program
by $14 million. Basic research in the University Research Initiative (URI)
programs would see a $9 million reduction in FY 2005.
RDT&E also funds the two major defense research agencies-the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Missile Defense Agency
(MDA). For the third year in a row, the MDA, formerly known as the Ballistic
Missile Defense Organization, would be a big winner in the President's
budget request, with a 20 percent increase to a level of $9.1 billion.
DARPA, whose mission is to "develop imaginative, innovative and often
high-risk research ideas, offering a significant technological impact
that will go beyond the normal evolutionary developmental approaches,"
also does quite well in the budget. DARPA funding would increase by 9.1
percent to a level of $3.1 billion. (For more on DOD, see Chapter
6.)
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA)
In a January 2004 presidential announcement, President George W. Bush
said that NASA will begin laying the groundwork for an ambitious new plan
for space exploration that will take man back to the moon by the year
2020, and eventually to Mars. That plan is outlined in a document released
with the President's budget request called A Renewed Spirit of Discovery,
The President's Vision for U.S. Space Exploration. As outlined in
the budget request, the policy goals are a sustained human and robotic
space exploration program; a return to the moon, Mars and beyond; and
a strategy to develop and improve the "technologies, knowledge and
infrastructures" for space exploration.
To accommodate the President's new plan, NASA has revised its organizational
structure for the second year in a row. The Space Flight Capabilities
(SFC) account, now Exploration Capabilities (EC), contains the Space Flight
enterprise and a new Exploration Systems enterprise. The Space Flight
enterprise contains the International Space Station (ISS), the Space Shuttle
and Space and Flight Support. The NASA budget request indicates that "relevant
elements from aerospace technology, space science, and space flight enterprises
have been transferred to the Explorations Systems Enterprise." The
Space, Aeronautics and Exploration (SAE) acronym is now Exploration, Science
and Aeronautics (ESA)-apparently to reflect the Administration's new priorities.
ESA is further divided into five separate Enterprises: Space Science,
Earth Science, Biological and Physical Research, Aeronautics (formerly
Aeronautics Technology), and Education. The request states that "The
Exploration Systems Enterprise will work closely with the Space Science
Enterprise to use the Moon as a testing ground for solar system exploration
vehicles and technologies."
After a slight increase in FY 2004, NASA's R&D budget would see a
more significant increase in FY 2005: a 3.9 percent, $425 million increase
to $11.3 billion (see Table II-12). However,
consistent with the President's intention to refocus NASA priorities,
it appears major shifts occur in funding for individual enterprises. Some,
such as Human & Robotic Technology, would see major gains (61 percent);
while others, like Education Programs would see significant cuts (25.5
percent, in this case). NASA has indicated that it will continue to meet
its commitment to the International Space Station, and R&D funding
would increase accordingly (up $365 million or 24 percent.) NASA also
reports that it plans to retire the Space Shuttle by the end of the decade.
And it has created a new program, called Project Constellation,
to develop a new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), which NASA expects to
complete by 2014. The Space Shuttle account would increase by 9.5 percent
in FY 2005, to a level of $4.3 billion.
Under the Exploration, Science, and Aeronautics (ESA) Enterprise, Space
Science would increase by 4.2 percent to a level of $4.1 billion, and
Biological and Physical Research would increase by 6.4 percent to $1.05
billion. On the other hand, Earth Science would decrease by 7.9 percent
to $1.5 billion. Likewise, Aeronautics would take a large cut at 11.1
percent to $919 million. As stated earlier, the Education Programs Enterprise
would be hit by 25.5 percent to a level of $169 million. (For more on
the NASA budget, see Chapter 10.)
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF)
Dr. Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation, calls the
FY 2005 NSF budget "a sea of mixed opportunity and constraint."
True to Dr. Colwell's characterization, the $5.7 billion NSF budget would
continue a six-year trend of steadily increasing budgets (62 percent between
FY 1998 and FY 2004). But it would fall far below the $7.4 billion levels
authorized by legislation passed in December 2002, as part of a plan to
double the NSF budget over five years. The total NSF budget would increase
by three percent over FY 2004 levels, while the budget for research and
development would increase by 3.6 percent to a level of $4.2 billion (see
Table II-7).
The NSF supports seven major research areas, or Directorates, including:
Biological Sciences (BIO), Computer and Information Science and Engineering
(CISE), Education and Human Resources (EHR), Engineering (ENG), Geosciences
(GEO), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and Social, Behavioral
and Economic Sciences (SBE.) It also has accounts for Polar Programs and
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC).
Most of the budgets for the major Directorates are essentially flat compared
to FY 2004. The Engineering Directorate, which supports research in areas
including information technology, biotechnology, and microeletronics would
increase by 1.9 percent to a level of $576 million. Under that, the Electrical
& Communication Systems sub-activity would take a $2 million cut,
and the Engineering Education and Centers sub-activity budget would fall
by $3 million. The Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) activity would
increase by 2.2 percent, which is a $24 million increase, to a level of
$1.1 billion. This Directorate supports education and research in the
physical and mathematical sciences.
The Sub-activities under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Directorate (CISE) would see major winners and losers, even though the
overall budget for the Directorate would increase by 2.2 percent to $618
million. The Computer & Network Systems, Computing & Communication,
and Information & Intelligent Systems Sub-activities would all see
increases of roughly 15 percent, while the Information Technology Research
Sub-activity would get hit with a $40 million, 18 percent cut. Shared
Cyber-infrastructure would increase by 9.7 percent, or $11 million. Last
year, all other Sub-activities were relatively flat, while IT Research
received a large boost.
In addition to the Directorates, Dr. Colwell has designated five "emerging
areas of research" for priority in the FY 2005 budget "that
hold exceptional potential to advance knowledge in areas of global economic
and social importance." Three of these areas, Mathematical Sciences,
Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NS&E), and Workforce for the 21st
Century, are of particular significance for electrotechnology research
and development. The other two priority areas are Biocomplexity in the
Environment and Social Dynamics. The NS&E budget would see an increase
of $50 million over the FY 2004 levels to $305 million. The Mathematical
Sciences budget would remain essentially flat from the previous year at
$89 million, with $70 million of that amount going to the Mathematical
and Physical Sciences Directorate, with the other $19 million spread across
various other NSF research directorates.
The Workforce for the 21st Century priority area, funded at $20 million,
focuses on all education levels from K-12 to postdoctoral education and
is designed to "strengthen the nation's capacity to produce world-class
scientists and engineers, and a general workforce with the skills to thrive
in the 21st century workplace."
For the second year in a row, the funding level for Major Research Equipment
and Facilities Construction (MREFC) would receive a large increase. Last
year's $55 million increase would be followed again this year by a 37.6
percent, $58 million increase. (For more on NSF, see Chapter
7.)
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
According to Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, the Department of Energy
has "an ambitious, long-term vision of a zero-emission future, free
of reliance on imported energy." To try to achieve this goal, the
Bush Administration has laid out a list of priorities for research and
development in the FY 2005 President's budget request that focuses heavily
on alternative energy resources and clean coal initiatives. The DOE will
again be the lead agency in implementing the President's multi-agency
Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, as proposed in Mr. Bush's January 2003 State
of the Union Address. The $1.3 billion request includes $455 million to
be spread across several DOE research accounts. Other priorities include
$447 million for the Coal Research Initiative, $237 million for the Clean
Coal Power Initiative, and $9 million to explore ways to produce hydrogen
through nuclear power.
The DOE research and development budget is divided into seven separate
accounts: Energy Supply, Science, Fossil Energy, Energy Conservation,
Atomic Energy Defense, Clean Coal Technology, and Radioactive Waste Management.
DOE's overall R&D budget would increase slightly over FY 2004, by
$62 million (0.7 percent), to a level of $9.0 billion (see Table
II-11).
Of significant importance to electrical and electronics engineers is the
Office of Science, which "manages fundamental research programs in
basic energy sciences, biological and environmental sciences, and computational
science." The Office of Science is the largest supporter of electrotechnology-related
basic research in the United States. Research and development in this
office would decrease by $14 million to a level of $3.2 billion. Energy
Supply also would be cut, by $65 million to $454 million. Taking the largest
hit would be the Office of Energy Conservation which is cut by $74 million.
The budget for Radioactive Waste Management on the other hand, would nearly
quadruple from $69 million to $275 million. The bulk of this is a 506
percent increase in the Nuclear Waste Disposal Depository Program, which
the DOE says is "to fund the national defense programs' share of
a long-term geological repository for defense nuclear waste."
Other Bush Administration research and development priorities include
$38 million for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
project, $204 million for Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR),
and $113.6 million for construction and operation of the Spallation Neutron
Source. (For more on DOE, see Chapter 9.)
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST)
The perennial attempt by the Bush Administration to eliminate the Advanced
Technology Program (ATP) resurfaces in the FY 2005 budget for the Department
of Commerce, as funding for the program falls to zero from $171 million.
The purpose of the ATP is to "accelerate the development of innovative
technologies that promise significant commercial payoffs and widespread
benefits for the nation." Those funds would be used to give the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and its Scientific and Technical
Research and Services budget an increase in R&D of 29.8 percent to
a level of $367 million (see Table II-14).
The Bush Administration has attempted to eliminate the ATP in every budget
from FY 2002-2005, but funding has always been restored by Congress.
However, another program consistently targeted for elimination in the
past, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), is not targeted this
year but funding is flat over last year's level. The MEP, while not strictly
an electrotechnology R&D program, does help small businesses to manufacture
advanced electrotechnology products developed under R&D. The MEP funding
request for FY 2005 is again $39 million. (For more on NIST, see Chapter
13.)
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)
Funding for research and development at the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) would see significant increases again in the second year of its
existence. The R&D budget would increase by 15.5 percent, to a level
of $1.2 billion. The largest portion of the DHS R&D budget goes to
the Science and Technology Directorate with a FY 2005 budget of $987 million.
This represents an increase in programs of $118 million, all of which
is in the Biological Countermeasures Program. The $118 million increase
includes $13 million for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, and $65
million for the Bio-Surveillance Initiative. The initiative has several
elements that will impact electrotechnology. These include expanding Bio-Watch
coverage in the top ten threat cities, piloting of an integrated attack
warning and assessment system known as BIWICXS (Bio-Warning and Incident
Characterization System), and accelerating R&D on the next generation
environmental monitoring systems. All other programs affecting electrotechnology
including Threat and Vulnerability, Testing and Assessment (TVTA), Standards,
Emerging Threats, Rapid Prototyping, and Counter Man Portable Defense
Systems (MANPAD) are budgeted at their FY 2004 enacted levels. (For full
information on DHS R&D, see Chapter 12 and
Table II-20.)
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