The total federal R&D investment for FY 2007 is a record $139.9 billion, and increase of $4.6 billion. The increase primarily goes to development programs in the Defense Department for weapons systems and to NASA for new human spacecraft.
The appropriations contain increases for three physical sciences agencies as part of the American Competitiveness Initiative: the National Science Foundation, the Energy Department Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the Commerce Department. Also, the National Institutes of Health receives an inflationary increase instead of flat funding.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science Budget and Policy Program provides analysis of research and development (R&D) in the fiscal year 2007 budget at http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/fy07.htm.
President Proposes FY 2008 Budget
The President's proposed budget for FY 2008 was released February 5 (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy08/browse.html). The proposed budget includes increases for the three physical sciences agencies in the American Competitiveness Initiative, increases for weapons development and human spacecraft development, and decreased funding for the remaining federal R&D portfolio, including NIH.
To track the progress of the FY 2008 budget, resources include the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program (http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/), the American Association of Universities (http://www.aau.edu/budget/budapp.cfm), and the federal Office of Management and Budget (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/).
