Since 1951, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) and its predecessors have provided annual data on the federal government’s obligations for research and development. During the past 75 years, these data have been witness to several historical events and changes. This InfoChart highlights several selected historical changes in the federal R&D portfolio. Data are from the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, conducted by NCSES, within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

This set of data tables presents data on the research and development (R&D) outlays and obligations of federal agencies. Outlays are provided by agency for total R&D and total R&D plant. Obligations are provided for R&D by agency for type of work (basic research, applied research, and experimental development), field of R&D (for basic research, applied research, and experimental development), type of performer, and geographic area. Obligations are provided for R&D plant by agency for type of performer and geographic area. These data, collected by the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation, are the primary source of information about federal funding for R&D in the United States.

Federal obligations for research and experimental development decreased 2.1% in FY 2023. However, federal agency obligations for FY 2024 indicate federal funding for R&D is estimated to increase by 5.0%. These data are from the latest edition of the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

The Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest and most complexly organized federal agency; it accounts for nearly half of the entire federal research and development (R&D) portfolio and over 88% of the federal experimental development portfolio (see NSF 24-321, table 6). Although DOD’s R&D data are often presented as a single entity in other InfoBriefs on federal funding for R&D, treating DOD as a single entity masks the diversity in types of R&D investment. This InfoBrief will present data users with information on the diversity of funding activities by DOD component units. Data are from the 2022–23 Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

At the turn of the century, the federal government funded approximately 60% of basic research. In 2022, the federal government is estimated to fund about 40% of basic research among all U.S. domestic performers of R&D. At the same time, federal budget authority and federal obligations for basic research as a share of total federal R&D are among the highest levels they have been. This InfoBrief provides perspective on this dichotomy and provides data users with an understanding of federal funding for basic research as part of the overall national portfolio of R&D performance and within the federal R&D enterprise. Data are from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

In FY 2022, federal contracts for research and experimental development (R&D) totaled $51.9 billion, whereas federal grants for R&D totaled $52.4 billion. Federal contracts for R&D plant totaled $1.0 billion, whereas federal grants for R&D plant totaled $626 million. These data are from the latest edition of the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

FY 2022 total federal obligations for research and development increased 0.4% from FY 2021, and preliminary FY 2023 obligations are expected to decrease 2.1%. However, when adjusted for inflation FY 2022 obligations decreased 6.1% from FY 2021, and preliminary FY 2023 obligations are expected to decrease an additional 6.4% from FY 2022. Data are from the Survey of Federal Funds for R&D, conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

This set of data tables present data on the research and development (R&D) outlays and obligations of federal agencies. Outlays are provided by agency for total R&D and total R&D plant. Obligations are provided for R&D by agency for type of work (basic research, applied research, and experimental development), field of R&D (for basic research, applied research, and experimental development), type of performer, and geographic area. Obligations are provided for R&D plant by agency for type of performer and geographic area. These data, collected by the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, are the primary source of information about federal funding for R&D in the United States.

Federal obligations for research and experimental development were virtually unchanged in FY 2022, increasing 0.4% from FY 2021. However, federal agency obligations for FY 2023 indicate federal funding for R&D is estimated to decline by more than 2%. These data are from the latest edition of the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the National Science Foundation.

FY 2021 total federal obligations for experimental development totaled $103.9 billion, with 80%, or $82.6 billion, directed toward two fields of R&D: engineering and life sciences. Data are from the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the National Science Foundation.