# Presentation: 352915

## Experimental Program to 

***Experimental Program to ***
***Stimulate Competitive ***
***Research***

**Building National Science & Technology Capability**

## NSF’s Mandate

**The National Science Foundation has a mandate to promote and advance scientific progress **_**nationwide**_**.  Section 3(e) of the NSF Act of 1950, as amended, directs the NSF to:**
***    “******.... Strengthen research in the sciences and & engineering, including independent research by individuals throughout the United States, and to ***_***avoid undue concentration***_*** of such research and education.”***

## NSF Strategic Goals 

***NSF Strategic Goals***** **

**In pursuit of its historic mission ... “*****To promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense, and for other purposes*****” ...the NSF invests in:**

***A diverse, internationally competitive, and globally engaged workforce of scientists, engineers, and well-prepared citizens.***** **
***Discovery across the frontier of science and engineering, connected to learning, innovation, and service to society.***
***Broadly accessible*****, state-of-the-art, and shared research and education tools.**

## EPSCoR’s Origins

**In 1978, Congressional concerns about inequities in the geographic distribution of federal R&D funds resulted in the adoption of a National Science Board resolution (NSB 78-12) in support of what became EPSCoR’s objective.**
***    “******To improve the quality of science and increase the ability of scientists in eligible states to compete successfully for federal funds.”***

## Slide 5

## EPSCoR State Demographics 

**17% of the U.S. population  **
**16% of the doctoral universities**
**15% of the academic scientists and engineers engaged in research**
**12% S&E graduate student**
***14% of all competitive proposals submitted ***
***            ******to NSF***
***12% of awards made from those proposals***

## Program  Process

_**Governing Committee**_** - Establish a state-wide steering committee to develop a strategic plan for increased  academic R&D competitiveness that builds broad-based support for S&T research and graduate education.**
_**Committee’s Role**_** - The committee identifies barriers, establishes R&D priorities, selects S&T areas for enhancement, empowers individuals and institutions capable of providing program leadership, and obtains resources to implement  state and institutional improvements in S&T areas of strategic importance.**

## EPSCoR’s Bases

_**Operating Premise**_** - *****EPSCoR universities and their S&E faculty and students are valuable resources that have the potential to influence a state’s development in the 21st  century in much the same way as its agricultural, industrial and natural resources did in the 20th century*****.**
** **_**Fundamental Goal**_** - *****To identify, develop, and utilize a state’s academic resources in a way that ultimately will result in greater prosperity and well being for all its citizens through improved career opportunities.***

## EPSCoR's  Strategy

_**Quality within Context**_** - To view each EPSCoR participant within the context of its stage of development and to support  only focused, high quality S&T enhancement activities.**
_**Added Value**_** - To support only those activities that "add significant value" to the existing S&T enterprise. **
_**Sustainability**_** - To ultimately create a S&T infrastructure that will allow EPSCoR institutions and researchers to transition into the mainstream of federal R&D support.**

## Operating   Principles

_**Accountability**_** – Establish merit review at all levels with emphasis on the “value added” to existing circumstances.  Both S&T and program management accountability emphasized at all levels. **
_**Partnerships**_** - Promote establishment of Government-university-private sector partnerships designed to meet state and national S&T needs. **
_**Resources**_** – Encourage significant non-federal investment in S&T that will allow state’s and the federal government to share both the “risks and rewards” of  academic R&D development.**

## Current  Investment Strategies 

_**Research Infrastructure Improvement**_** - 36 month awards of up to $9 million total.  A 50% matching share is required over the term of the award.**
_**Outreach**_** - Support of outreach visits by NSF program and professional staff to acquaint researchers in EPSCoR States with NSF programs, priorities, and policies.  **
_**Co-Funding**_** - Joint support of proposals submitted by researchers from EPSCoR States to NSF’s ongoing grant programs and special competitions (applies to proposals reviewing at or near the cutoff for funding by the reviewing program).**

## FY 2003 EPSCoR Budget

**Research Infrastructure**
**Improvement Awards**

**54%**

**Co-Funding Initiative**

**Outreach**
** ****Initiative**

**SBIR Proposal Support**

**<1%**

**3%**

**43%**

**Source: NSF EPSCoR Office 2003 Annual Report**

## Co-Funding Adds Millions to EPSCoR States’ Funding

**Co-Funding Adds Millions to EPSCoR States’ Funding**

- SOURCE: NSF EPSCoR Office

**EPSCoR Infrastructure Support**

**EPSCoR’s Co-Funding Contribution**

**Directorates’ Co-Funding Contribution**

## And the Latest News from DC

***   ******Regarding EPSCoR.....***

## A YEAR OF CHANGES . . . and WAITING. . .

_**Mar. 2003**_**:  National Search begun for EPSCoR Office ****	****	****  Head**
_**May 2003**_**:  EPSCoR Office Head, James Hoehn retires**
_**Dec. 2003**_**:  Acting Office Head, Richard Anderson retires**
_**Feb. 2004**_**:  Sherry Farwell named as new EPSCoR Office**
** ****	****	****Head (not fully effective until 12 July 2004)**
**	****         ****Ardent Bement replaces Rita Colwell **
**	****          ****as Director NSF**

## And currently:

**	****Donald Thompson serving as Acting EPSCoR Office Head**
**	****FY 2005 budget process ongoing...with an OMB “guided” ****	****	****NSF request for EPSCoR of $84 million**
**         ****	****NSF working on preparation of FY 2006 budget request**
**	****States (13) are preparing Research Infrastructure**
**	****	****Improvement proposals for 19 July deadline**
**	****Report requested by Congress on progress of EPSCoR ****	****	****	****states toward “graduation” nearing completion**
**	****Future structure of NSF EPSCoR program a matter of **
**	****	****serious thought and discussion**

## EPSCoR States’ Competitive NSF Proposals

**SOURCE:** Data provided by NSF Budget Division; includes all competitive proposals and awards.

**Number of Competitive Proposals**

## NSF Research Awards Received by the EPSCoR States

**SOURCE:** Data provided by NSF Budget Division; includes all competitive awards from the research directorates.

**Number of Research Awards**

##       NSF Research Support Funding Awarded to the EPSCoR States

**SOURCE**: Data provided by NSF Budget Division

***      ******NSF Research Support Funding Awarded to the EPSCoR States***
***         ***

**Notes:**
Only States/Territories considered EPSCoR during the relevant year were included in the totals.  The amounts for NAIC (PR) and the radio observatory in West Virginia were not removed from the total.

## Federal Science and Engineering Funding for the EPSCoR States

**Note: **Data available up to FY 2001;  **Source:** NSF Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support to
- Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions: Funding from all Federal Agencies

***Federal Science and Engineering Funding for the EPSCoR States***