Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy A View from the White House Steve Fetter Assistant Director at-large, Office of Science and Technology Policy Professor, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Main messages Science and technology are key to meeting the great national and global challenges we face. The high priority that the President gives to S&T is reflected in his rhetoric, appointments, budgets, and initiatives. Constraints on federal funding will remain the biggest obstacle to implementing S&T policies equal to the challenges we face. President Obama has noted that to succeed in this challenging environment we will need all hands on deck.
S&T is key to the great challenges we face Economic recovery and growth Better health care outcomes at lower cost; combating preventable and pandemic disease Transforming the global energy system to avoid catastrophic climate change Global poverty eradication and development Reconciling competing demands on land/water for food, fiber, fuels, and ecosystem services Reducing risks from nuclear and biological weapons; cyber and power grid security
President Obama Gives High Priority to S&T As reflected in rhetoric S&T front and center in campaign, inauguration speech, joint session speech, NAS speech, Cairo We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its costs. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. (January 23) At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science, that support for research is somehow a luxury at moments defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before. Just think what this will allow us to accomplish: solar cells as cheap as paint; green buildings that produce all the energy they consume; learning software as effective as a personal tutor; prosthetics so advanced that you could play the piano again; an expansion of the frontiers of human knowledge about ourselves and world the around us. (April 27)
As reflected in Presidential events Astronomy on the White House lawn, October 7
President Obama Gives High Priority to S&T As reflected in appointments Ten members of NAS, NAE, IOM in top positions in administration A Nobel laureate in physics leading DOE A world renown marine biologist and former president of AAAS leading NOAA A CTO & CIO in the Executive Branch for the first time
President Obama s Priority on S&T As reflected in S&T budgets $18.3 billion for basic and applied research in the stimulus package; largest increase and highest level of funding in U.S. history $110 billion in total innovation funding $55 billion for energy, efficiency, smart grid, high speed rail, advanced vehicles $26 billion for health IT and broadband Proposed doubling of budgets for NSF, NIST, and DOE Science over 8 years
The President s Initiatives National investment in R&D to 3% of GDP currently 2.6%; previous high: 2.9% in 1964 Make R&E tax credit permanent ($75 billion) STEM education race to the top funds: science labs, teacher training Triple NSF graduate research fellowships in sci/eng Clean energy / climate Cap and trade bill with $150B over 10 yr; ARPA e Health computerize medical records, $6 billion toward doubling cancer research
The President s Initiatives (continued) Scientific integrity guidelines to ensure that public policy is informed by the best possible science, and that political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions. Visa procedures new procedures for the MANTIS system that applies to visas for scientist and engineers will greatly reduce backlogs and delays while preserving security Muslim world S&T cooperation (Cairo+) Strategy for American Innovation History should be our guide. The United States led the world s economies in the 20th century because we led the world in innovation.
Foundations of success Healthy research institutions (universities, national & private labs) Science, technology, engineering, & math (STEM) education Robust information, communication, transportation, energy, and space infrastructures International cooperation in S&T Supporting institutional processes & guidelines (IP, export controls, integrity, openness, visas)
The continuing Federal budget challenge Outlays in billions of constant FY2009 dollars
Responsibilities of OSTP Science and technology for policy Independent, objective advice for the President about S&T aspects of policy issues (e.g., health, energy, climate change, national security, etc.) Policy for science and technology Analysis, recommendations, and coordination with OMB, DPC, NEC, and/or NSC on R&D budgets and policies, S&T education and workforce issues, and S&T initiatives
Organization John Holdren is Assistant to the President and also the Senate confirmed Director of OSTP OSTP has 4 divisons, each headed by a Senateconfirmed Associate Director Science Technology (CTO Aneesh Chopra) Environment (Shere Abbott) National Security & International Affairs National Science & Technology Council (NSTC) PCAST (Co Chairs Holdren, Lander, Varmus)
July PCAST meeting with the President