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On Friday (March 26), the US House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology introduced a bipartisan bill that outlines plans to more than double the National Science Foundation’s budget and create a new technology directorate.
“As countries around the world increase investments in research and STEM education, United States global leadership in science and engineering is eroding, posing significant risks to economic competitiveness, national security, and public well-being,” the bill states. “To address major societal challenges and sustain United States leadership in innovation, the Federal Government must increase investments in research.”
In 2021, the NSF received $8.5 billion to fund its seven directorates. The new legislation proposes to increase the agency’s annual budget up to $18.3 billion by 2026, part of which would go toward a new initiative called Science and Engineering Solutions. With a focus on turning basic research into new technologies and ...
