Science Resources Studies Division

DATA BRIEF Directorate for

Social, Behavioral

and Economic

Sciences

National Science Foundation

 by Ronald L.

Meeks

Vol. 1995, No. 9, May 8, 1995

Electronic

Dissemination

SRS data are available through

the World Wide Web (http://

www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/start.htm)

and also through STIS (Science

and Technology Information

System), NSFs online

publishing system, described in

NSF 94-4, the STIS flyer.

For a paper copy of the flyer,

call 703-306-1130. For an

electronic copy, send an e-mail

to stisfly@nsf.gov (Internet). For

NSFs Telephonic Device for the

Deaf, dial 703-306-0090.

The Department of

Defense will account

for 49 percent

of the Federal R&D

obligations in FY

1995, down from 57

percent in FY 1990

Small Decrease in Federal Funding for

R&D and R&D Plant Expected in FY 1995

Estimated Federal funding for research

and development (R&D) and R&D

plant, as reported in the National Science

Foundation’s (NSF’s) Annual Survey of

Federal Funds for R&D, is expected to

decrease 1 percent, to $72 billion in fiscal

year (FY) 1995. Contributing to this decline

is a 26-percent drop in R&D plant obligations (to $2 billion) and a 1-percent decrease

in development funding (to $41 billion).

Research spending will increase slightly by

one-half percent (to $28 billion). After

adjusting for inflation, Federal obligations

for R&D and R&D plant will decline 4

percent.

Agency Funding Shares

Seven Federal agencies, out of the 32 that

report to the R&D survey, will account for

95 percent ($68 billion) of total Federal

funding for R&D and R&D plant in FY

1995 (table 1). The Department of Defense

(DOD) will comprise the largest share (49

percent), even though its funding is expected

to decrease by 2 percent from FY 1994 to

FY 1995. Funding from the Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS) will

comprise the second-largest share (16 percent),

increasing by 2 percent in FY 1995. Most of

the HHS amount is from its National Institutes

of Health for the life sciences. The other top

funding agencies will be the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (13

percent of the FY 1995 Federal R&D and

R&D plant total), the Department of Energy

(DOE) (10 percent), NSF (3 percent), the

Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2 percent), and the Department of Commerce

(DOC) (nearly 2 percent). R&D and R&D

plant funding will decline from NASA, DOE,

and USDA in FY 1995, whereas that from

NSF and DOC will increase.

R&D Growth in the 1990s

Of these seven agencies, DOC will have the

largest R&D and R&D plant funding growth

rate from FY 1990 to FY 1995—24 percent

(20 percent in constant 1987 dollars). The

growth in DOC funding reflects the rapid

increases in funding at its National Institute of

Standards and Technology, whose budget rises

from $131 million in FY 1990 to an estimated

Table 1. Federal obligations for R&D and R&D plant: Fiscal years 1990-95

[Millions of dollars]

Average annual percent 

change, FY 1990-95

Agency FY 1990 FY 1991 FY 1992 FY 1993 FY 1994 

(estimate)

FY 1995 

(estimate)

In current 

dollars

In 1987 

dollars

Total........................... 65,831 64,148 68,577 70,415 72,818 71,747 1.7 -1.1

 DOD........................ 37,756 32,561 36,526 36,221 35,904 35,187 -1.4 -4.1

 HHS........................ 8,513 9,842 9,085 10,499 11,410 11,617 6.4 3.5

 NASA...................... 7,060 8,004 8,475 8,769 9,756 9,198 5.4 2.5

 DOE........................ 6,547 7,203 7,493 7,724 7,479 7,313 2.2 -0.6

 NSF......................... 1,729 1,945 1,970 2,012 2,240 2,388 6.7 3.7

 USDA...................... 1,211 1,381 1,492 1,470 1,543 1,477 4.1 1.2

 DOC....................... 454 505 672 682 1,166 1,316 23.7 20.3

 Other agencies...... 2,562 2,707 2,864 3,038 3,321 3,250 4.9 2.0

SOURCE: NSF/SRS, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 1993, 1994, and 1995
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Research Funding

Basic research and applied research

will each comprise about 20 percent

($14 billion) of the total Federal

funding for R&D and R&D plant

(chart 1). Funding for basic research

is projected to increase by about

$160 million in FY 1995, and that for

applied research will decrease slightly,

by $30 million. Between FY 1990 and

FY 1995, research funding will have

an average annual growth of 5 percent,

which in constant dollars will be a 2-

percent rate of increase. Applied research will show a 6-percent growth

rate (3 percent in constant dollars)

between FY 1990 and FY 1995, and

basic research will grow by about 5

percent annually (2 percent in constant

dollars).

Each of the eight fields of science and

engineering identified in the survey is

expected to show an increase in

funding between FY 1990 and FY

1995. Growth in research support will

range from 2 percent (–1 percent in

constant dollars) for the social sciences

to 13 percent (10 percent in constant

dollars) for mathematics and computer

sciences. In FY 1995 the life sciences

will continue to have the greatest share

of the funding and will comprise 41

percent of total Federal research

dollars.

$794 million in FY 1995. DOC will be

followed by NSF with a 7-percent

growth rate (4 percent in constant

dollars). R&D and R&D plant funding

from HHS is expected to average 6

percent growth per year (4 percent in

constant dollars) between FY 1990

and FY 1995. DOD’s obligations will

drop 1 percent annually from FY 1990

to FY 1995. In constant dollars, its

funding will decrease at an annualized

rate of 4 percent over this 5-year

period.

Survey Notes

The 32 Federal agencies that report

R&D obligations to the Federal Funds

survey submitted actual obligations for

FY 1993 and estimates for FYs 1994

and 1995. Data were reported during

the period March–October 1994.

Agencies can later revise the estimates

on the basis of expected changes in the

funding levels of R&D programs.

Therefore, all FY 1994 and 1995

obligations are subject to revision in

the next survey cycle. The possibility

of revision may be particularly important in FY 1995.

The data presented in this Data Brief

are being released in advance of the

comprehensive Detailed Statistical

Tables report, Federal Funds for

Research and Development: Fiscal

Years 1993, 1994, and 1995, Volume 43.

This Data Brief was prepared by

Ronald L. Meeks, who may be reached

at the following address:

Division of Science Resources Studies

National Science Foundation

4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 965

Arlington, VA 22230

Phone: (703) 306-1772, ext. 6937

Internet: rmeeks@nsf.gov

To obtain a free copy of the full report

or of this Data Brief, contact the SRS

Publications Unit at the above address,

telephone (703) 306-1773, or e-mail to

srspubs@nsf.gov.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

ARLINGTON, VA 22230

Chart 1. Federal obligations for research:

Fiscal years 1990-95

(Billions of dollars)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

Basic

Applied

SOURCE: NSF/SRS, Survey of Federal Funds for 

 Research and Development: Fiscal 

 Years 1993, 1994, and 1995