Innovation Task Force Urges Support for CHIPS & Science Act Funding

The Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI), a nonpartisan advocacy alliance of U.S. industry, academia, and scientific and technical organizations such as ASME, recently sent two letters to key Biden Administration officials urging budget support for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and National Science Foundation (NSF) presidential budget requests for fiscal year 2024.  Following passage of this year’s CHIPS & Science Act, both agencies could receive a record budget request early next year, launching major new initiatives in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, clean energy, decarbonization, and other strategic U.S. research priorities.
 
Both TFAI letters are addressed to agency heads and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young. The letter notes that past Administrations and Congresses have failed to follow through on research budget plans, stating “Unfortunately, when America last authorized such robust investments in the original COMPETES legislation, true financial follow-through did not materialize. Now more than ever, the United States needs robust and sustained funding in these areas to further strengthen the American STEM workforce, advance innovation, promote economic growth, and maintain national security.”
 
The letters cite data from this year’s National Science Board report, The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2022, which documents how many of the United States’ global competitors are increasing investments in R&D while the proportion of total U.S. R&D funded by the government is getting smaller. As a result, the overall share of research performed in the United States has declined dramatically over the last two decades.
 
For more information on the Task Force on American Innovation, visit here.