NSF: Federal Role in Academic R&D Funding Has Diminished

A report from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) concludes that the federal government's role in the underwriting of science and engineering research and development (R&D) has waned. NSF's survey found that the government's percentage of R&D funding reported by institutions fell from 64 percent to about 60 percent between 2005 and 2008. Meanwhile, funding from state and local government increased 8.8 percent, while industry contributions rose 7.1 percent and college/university funding climbed 7 percent. "Additionally, R&D funds for joint projects that were passed through primary university recipients to other university subrecipients nearly doubled from fiscal year 2000 to fiscal year 2008, from $0.7 billion to $1.4 billion in constant 2000 dollars," NSF says.

The Department of Health and Human Services was the biggest source of federal R&D funding with $17.5 billion, while NSF came in second with $3.77 billion. Life sciences, engineering, physical sciences, environmental sciences, and computer sciences received $18.66 billion, $4.7 billion, $2.74 billion, $1.83 billion, and $1.03 billion from the federal government, respectively.

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