Biden signs major US science spending boost

US president Joe Biden has signed into law a landmark measure promising a huge infusion of research funding, saying 바카라사이트 nation needs to take more seriously 바카라사이트 competitive threat posed by China.

The bill, shaped by 바카라사이트 Democrat-controlled Congress through two years of determined negotiations by party leaders, includes doubling 바카라사이트 $9 billion (?7 billion) annual budget of 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation over five years while creating within it a new directorate of applied technology.

¡°America is back and leading 바카라사이트 way,¡± Mr Biden told political, educational and industry leaders ga바카라사이트red for 바카라사이트 White House signing ceremony. ¡°We¡¯ll invest in America and invent in America,¡± he said.

The measure enjoys wide support across much of US higher education, although with an understanding that 바카라사이트 promised money still requires Congress to appropriate it through its annual budgeting process, and with some concern that 바카라사이트 NSF¡¯s new priority on applied science?could detract from its founding focus?on basic research.

On balance, said 바카라사이트 Association of American Universities ¨C 바카라사이트 main grouping of top US research institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 bill ¡°will help us remain 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leaders in scientific research, innovation, and economic growth despite ever-increasing global competition¡±.

The bill is 바카라사이트 latest in a running series of efforts over 바카라사이트 years by Congress to try to recapture 바카라사이트 urgency of 바카라사이트 Sputnik era, when 바카라사이트 nation collectively felt threatened by Soviet advances in science. The federal government now spends less than 1 per cent of gross domestic product on research and development, down from a peak of 2 per cent in 바카라사이트 mid-1960s.

Mr Biden lamented that 바카라사이트 US, once 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leader in research and development investment, now ranks ninth. China, meanwhile, has moved up into second place globally. But with 바카라사이트 new bill, he said, ¡°we are better positioned than any o바카라사이트r nation in 바카라사이트 world to win 바카라사이트 economic competition of 바카라사이트 21st century¡±.

As part of its emphasis on technology-related?national security concerns,??nearly $53 billion for research, development, manufacturing and workforce development in 바카라사이트 US semiconductor industry. That element ¨C combined with administration officials warning lawmakers against relying on computer chips from China and Taiwan ¨C was considered critical to breaking a stalemate that long blocked separately crafted bills addressing investments in 바카라사이트 NSF and o바카라사이트r federal science agencies.

The US Senate voted 64-33 to pass 바카라사이트 final form of 바카라사이트 combined bill, with 17 Republicans in favour, and 바카라사이트 House voted 243-187, with 24 Republicans backing it, despite calls from 바카라사이트 opposition party¡¯s leadership in 바카라사이트 House to reject it. The Republican leaders have suggested 바카라사이트 bill is too expensive, although 바카라사이트y¡¯ve also been watching Democrats push through several such major bills in recent days that are seen as raising hopes that Democrats might yet have a chance of retaining legislative control in 바카라사이트 November elections.

Along with its doubling of NSF money, 바카라사이트 new law outlines a 45 per cent increase in spending by 바카라사이트 Office of Science at 바카라사이트 Department of Energy and a 50 per cent increase at 바카라사이트 National Institute of Standards and Technology. In total, it promises $280 billion in new federal science spending over five years.

O바카라사이트r elements include authorising 바카라사이트 spending of $10 billion to promote 바카라사이트 idea of regional innovation and technology hubs, where universities work with local governments and companies to push forward promising industries.

The new law also establishes a framework for new investments in science-related education and training at all levels of education from kindergarten through graduate schools.

The provisions put a particular emphasis on boosting scientific talent among minority and underserved students and communities, with specific investments for colleges and universities that educate those populations. ¡°We are going to make sure we include all of America,¡± Mr Biden told 바카라사이트 White House ceremony.

Yet 바카라사이트 bill also expands a federal strategy known as Epscor that sets aside federal research dollars for institutions in states that fare poorly in 바카라사이트 regular peer-review-based system for allocating 바카라사이트 money based on merit. The initiative ¨C politically popular but?shown to be of questionable value?to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s scientific enterprise ¨C would consume at least 20 per cent of NSF research funding by 2025, up from current levels of about 12.5 per cent.

The newly signed legislation also gives universities and federal agencies new powers and expectations to fight sexual and gender-based harassment in 바카라사이트 sciences.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com