"Small"
Science
Funding Grows Slightly
The President's FY 2005 Budget provides
almost $1 billion for the multi-agency National Nanotechnology
Initiative (NNI), a doubling over levels in 2001. Launched as
an Executive Branch initiative in 2001, the NNI has become one
of the Bush Administration's top multi-agency research and development
priorities. Ten federal agencies currently fund NNI activities,
and several other agencies participate in coordination.
In FY 2004, the President requested $864 million for nanotechnology
R&D—a 10% increase over the FY 2003 budget request—and
these requests were met in the final budget. For FY 2005,
President Bush has requested $982 million for this initiative,
an increase of $118 million from his FY 2004 request.
NSF continues to have the largest share of federal nanotechnology
funding, reflecting the broad mission of NSF in supporting
fundamental research across all disciplines of science and
engineering. The Department of Energy's investment also has
grown significantly, with the creation of five Nanoscale
Science Research Centers. These centers provide research
equipment and infrastructure that will be broadly available
to researchers from across the scientific research community.
Funding for DOD's nanotechnology program—most of which is
supported through DARPA, but which also includes contributions
from the three military services—has also grown significantly
over the years. NIH's FY 2005 request for nanotechnology
reflects the growing emphasis on nanotechnology-based biomedical
advances occurring at the intersection of biology and the
physical sciences, and the priority of nanomedicine in
the NIH roadmap.
| Federal Agency |
FY 2003 |
FY 2004 |
FY 2005 |
| |
Actual |
Estimate |
Request |
National Science
Foundation |
$221 |
$254 |
$305 |
Department of Defense |
220 |
315 |
276 |
Department of Energy |
134 |
203 |
211 |
National Institutes of Health |
78 |
80 |
89 |
Department of Commerce |
64 |
63 |
53 |
NASA |
36 |
37 |
35 |
Department of Agriculture |
0 |
1 |
5 |
Environmental Protection Agency |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Department of Homeland Security |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Department of Justice |
1 |
2 |
2 |
TOTAL |
$760 |
$961 |
$982 |
|
Based on the latest numbers from the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) and the NNI Coordination
Office. The totals for FY 04 are estimates based on last
year's requests. Agencies have not yet released their final
FY 2004 numbers awarded in the omnibus spending bill, passed
on January 20, 2004.
NNI funding emphasizes long-term, fundamental research
aimed at discovering novel phenomena, processes, and tools;
addressing NNI Grand Challenges; supporting new interdisciplinary
centers and networks of excellence (including shared user
facilities); supporting research infrastructure; and addressing
research and educational activities on the societal implications
of nanotechnology.
The NNI also continues to receive strong bi-partisan support
on Capitol Hill. Late last year, Congress passed, and President
Bush signed, the 21 st Century Nanotechnology Research
and Development Act, which put into law programs and activities
supported by the NNI. This bill also authorizes nearly
$3.7 billion for R&D programs coordinated among several
federal agencies over four years, starting in FY 2005.
In addition, the law authorizes expert advisory panels,
public hearings, as well as the American Nanotechnology
Preparedness Center, to study the emerging technology's
potential societal and ethical implications.
The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
(PCAST) is currently in the process of reviewing the multi-agency
nanotechnology R&D programs and articulating a strategic
plan for the program, defining specific grand challenges
to guide the program, and identifying metrics for meeting
progress toward those grand challenges. PCSAT will deliver
an initial report in 2004.
For additional information on the NNI and the opportunities
it may offer for your organization, contact TechVision21
at (202) 263-0168 or info@techvision21.com |
