News Release 15-054
Latest figures show decline in federal funding for R&D, equipment, facilities in FY 2013
Projections show rising federal agency obligations in FY 2014 and FY 2015
May 14, 2015
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
Federal agency funding for research and development (R&D) and R&D plant (facilities and fixed equipment used for R&D) fell by 9 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2013, according to a new InfoBrief from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES).
NCSES found that total federal agency obligations dropped from $141 billion to $127 billion between FY 2012 and FY 2013. Funding dropped by 4 percent for research, 14 percent for development and 11 percent for R&D plant, according to the NCSES report.
The FY 2013 figures represent the most recent actual data available. Estimates project that combined funding for R&D and R&D plant will rise by 3 percent ($4 billion) in FY 2014 and 2 percent ($3 billion) in FY 2015.
Changes in agency obligation levels between FY 2012 and FY 2013 include the following:
- 14 percent drop ($10 billion) at the Department of Defense, which accounted for just over half of all federal R&D obligations in FY 2013
- 6 percent drop ($2 billion) at the Department of Health and Human Services, which accounted for 23 percent of federal R&D obligations
- 3 percent drop at NASA, which accounted for 8 percent of federal R&D obligations
- 1 percent drop at the Department of Energy, which accounted for 8 percent of federal R&D obligations
- 4 percent drop at the National Science Foundation (NSF), which accounted for 4 percent of federal R&D obligations
NCSES found that federal obligations for basic research declined by 4 percent. Basic research obligations are estimated to increase by 6 percent in FY 2014, then decrease by less than 1 percent in FY 2015.
Please visit NSF's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) for more reports and other products.
-NSF-
Media Contacts
Rob Margetta, NSF, (703) 292-8070, email: rmargett@nsf.gov
Program Contacts
Michael Yamaner, NSF, (703) 292-7815, email: myamaner@nsf.gov
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