Government Funding for Science and Engineering

Explore federal and state government research and development (R&D) funding data and trends. Topics include type of R&D work performed (basic research, applied research, and experimental development), performer of the work, funding to individual higher education institutions and nonprofits, field of R&D research, place of performance, and budget R&D function, such as defense, health, and energy.

ncses_budgetfunction_onepager

Federal Budget Authority for R&D

View and Download

Government Funding for Science and Engineering Topics

R&D Funding by Government

Federal Government/Agency R&D

State Government/Agency R&D

R&D Funding by Government

Research & Development (R&D) Activity

Federal Government/Agency R&D

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) R&D

State Government/Agency R&D

Type of R&D (basic, applied, experimental development)

R&D Publications & Articles

R&D Funding Received & Spent

Federal Government/Agency R&D

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) R&D

R&D Funding Source

State Government/Agency R&D

Business R&D

Nonprofit R&D

R&D Funding Agreement (contract, grant, reimbursement, etc.)

R&D Capital Expenditures

R&D Cost Type

Current Topics

COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts

Location

By State or Region

By Country

Colleges and Universities

Institutions

Minorities in Higher Education

Fields of Study

Fields of Study

A Brief Annotated History of Federal R&D Obligations: FYs 1951–2024.

Analysis

A Brief Annotated History of Federal R&D Obligations: FYs 1951–2024

April 10, 2025

Federal R&D Obligations Declined 2.1% in FY 2023; Estimated to Increase in FY 2024.

Analysis

Federal R&D Obligations Declined 2.1% in FY 2023; Estimated to Increase in FY 2024

March 19, 2025

Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2023–24.

Data

Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2023–24

March 19, 2025

Data Highlights

Adjusted to constant 2017 dollars, the FY 2025 proposed budget authority for R&D declined $7 billion from the $158 billion in actual budget authority for FY 2023

Figure 1. Adjusted to constant 2017 dollars, the FY 2025 proposed budget authority for R&D declined $7 billion from the $158 billion in actual budget authority for FY 2023)

The decrease is mainly caused by a reduction in R&D funding for National defense

43%

Health-related R&D expenditures continued to account for the largest share (43%) of state agencies' R&D in FY 2023

1,089

Number of U.S. higher education institutions that received federal agency obligations for science and engineering support in FY 2022

Federal agency obligations for research and experimental development (R&D) totaled $190.4 billion in FY 2022

Figure 1. Federal agency obligations for research and experimental development (R&D) totaled $190.4 billion in FY 2022

An increase of 0.4% from FY 2021