Draft NSF Strategic Plan Open for Comment

Meeting short-term budget demands are consuming more and more of state, local and academic tech-based economic development practitioners' time. However, keeping an eye on the long-range funding picture is critical for sustained success. One of the most important federal sources for supporting the research enterprise is the National Science Foundation (NSF). At NSF Director Rita Colwell's request, the public has the opportunity to participate in developing NSF's strategic vision and plan for the next six years.

"The views of the science and engineering community and the public are very important to us and will be reflected in the final draft of the updated plan," Dr. Colwell writes.

While comprising only four percent of the total federal research and development budget, NSF funds one-fifth of all federal support for basic research and 40 percent of non-life-science basic research at U.S. academic institutions. In addition, Congress has committed to doubling the NSF budget within five years so the agency's role is likely to grow in importance for state and local tech-based economic development plans.

Required to be updated every three years by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, NSF's strategic plan is used to set the agency's priorities and allocate resources or investments consistent with those priorities. Comments are to be submitted before July 15, 2003.

More information, including links to the draft strategic plan, is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/od/stratplan_03-08/draft-stratplan.htm