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Federal Obligations for R&D and R&D Plant Expected to Reach Over $105 Billion in FY 2004Federal obligations for research and development (R&D) and R&D plant in fiscal year 2004 will increase an estimated 4 percent (3 percent in inflation-adjusted 2000 dollars) over the FY 2003 level, reaching $105.2 billion (table 1). In this InfoBrief, "research" includes both basic and applied research. See Data Notes, below, for more detailed definitions of research, development, and R&D plant. Table 1 Source Data: Excel fileFederal Funding for ResearchWith agencies projecting a rise of 3 percent (2 percent in constant 2000 dollars) in total research funding, to $54.1 billion, research will account for 51 percent of total R&D and R&D plant dollars in FY 2004. The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Defense (DoD), Energy (DOE), and Agriculture, and two independent agencies, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), have consistently been the top research-funding agencies. Combined, these six agencies are expected to account for 93 percent of research dollars in FY 2004 (table 2). HHS is expected to provide the largest share (52 percent) of agency-funded research, followed by DoD (11 percent) and DOE and NASA (10 percent each). Table 2 Source Data: Excel fileBasic Research Applied Research Science and Engineering Fields Federal Funding for DevelopmentUntil FY 2004 the development share of total obligations for R&D and R&D plant had been decreasing, falling from 64 percent in FY 1990 to an estimated 43 percent in FY 2003 (table 1). In FY 2004, however, agencies project an increase in development funding of 9 percent (7 percent in constant 2000 dollars) over the FY 2003 level, to $47.0 billion, or 45 percent of total R&D and R&D plant obligations. DoD will provide 39.9 billion of these development dollars (85 percent), up 11 percent from FY 2003. Federal Funding for R&D PlantR&D plant is slated to decrease 21 percent (22 percent in constant 2000 dollars) from FY 2003 levels, to $4.2 billion (table 1). R&D plant dollars will account for 4 percent of the R&D and R&D plant total. NASA will provide the largest share of R&D plant dollars ($2.2 billion), followed by DOE ($1.0 billion) and NSF ($0.3 billion). Data NotesAll percentages in this report have been rounded to whole numbers. Preliminary estimates presented here are being released in advance of the NSF detailed statistical tables report Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2002, 2003, and 2004. The full report will be available at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf05307/. Research, development, and R&D plant, collectively, includes all costs for performance of R&D plus the costs of R&D plant. R&D plant includes costs related to structures, works, equipment, facilities, or land for use in R&D activities. Research is systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied and is classified as either basic or applied. Basic research is performed without specific applications in mind; applied research is performed to meet a recognized, specific need. Development includes costs related to the production of materials, devices, and systems or methods and comprises design, development, and improvement of prototypes and new processes to meet specific requirements. For more information, contact Ronald L. Meeks | ||||||||||||