New year, new congress, same budget. As of the publication of this issue of ISTC Catalyst, the federal government is operating under a fourth continuing resolution (CR). This has enabled maintenance level program funding through March 4, 2011, but precludes new program starts. The unprecedented reach of this CR is an omnipresent reminder of these challenging budget times. Available revenues are precious, and there is a heightened need to demonstrate outcomes for funded programs.
In the midst of this reality, we enter into the next round of federal budget proposals. A few weeks ago, President Obama delivered a State of the Union Address focused squarely on the role and connection of research, development and innovation to economic prosperity. In making this connection, he described the necessity of drawing on our nation’s economic history and citing our global leadership in entrepreneurialism, research and development and innovation:
“This is our generation’s Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven’t seen since the height of the Space Race. In a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.”
– President Obama
Against this backdrop, in this edition of ISTC Catalyst we look back at a few of the “highlights” from the previous budget year, and set the stage for the year ahead.
Watch and Listen:
President Obama’s Speech on Investment in Innovation
Start-up America Initiative at the White House
Learn:
- Fiscal Year 2011 Mid-year Budget Review
- R&D in the Federal Budget
- Innovation in the Federal Budget
- Life Sciences in the Federal Budget
- Nanotechnology in the Federal Budget
- Computing Research in the Federal Budget
- Latest SBIR/STTR Updates
- Start-up America Initiative at the White House
- Federal Funding Supports IIT
- SBA Supports Smart Grid Regional Innovation Cluster in Illinois
- Federal Grant Supports Broadband Development at NIU
- Argonne National Laboratory Upgrades to Super Supercomputer
- Historical Trends in R&D Funding
- Federal R&D Funding by State
- R&D in the Midwest: Trends & Indicators
- President Obama’s Plan for Science and Innovation
More News:
February, 17 2011
Northwestern University
Please join C2ST in welcoming Michael Skwarek,Deputy CIO and Cyber Security Program Manager at Argonne National Laboratory and Jason DeHaan, Chief Information Officer with the City of Chicago as they discuss the cyber threats that affect us all in today’s digital world. In addition, they will discuss what experts and the public need to do to mitigate these threats and keep them from becoming a reality.
Driving Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
The Executives Club of Chicago Professional Committee Breakfast
March, 31 2011
STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and math — are collectively considered the underpinnings of an advanced society. In many forums, the strength of the STEM workforce is viewed as an indicator of a nation’s ability to sustain itself. The Executives’ Club’s March 31st panel discussion will focus on the importance of STEM education in the U.S .and its effects on today’s students and tomorrow’s economy – in Chicago and across the nation.