Figure 3-4 



Federal Obligations for Basic Research 



as a Percent of Each Agency's 



R&D Obligations, by Agency, 1960-74 



Percent (basic research) 

 100 



70 



50 



40 



•>,^' 



NSF 



^ , 



USDA 





HEW 



DOD 



Other agencies 



J \ L 



J I \ L 



I960 62 '64 '86 '58 70 72 74 



(est.) 



SOURCE: National Science Foundation 



ranged from a low of 11 percent in the mid- 

 1960's to some 25 percent in the 1972-74 period, 

 with much of the latter growth coinciding with 

 reduced obligations for the manned-space 

 program. Basic research obligations by HEW 

 show a long-term decline, as a percentage of the 

 agency's obligations for all R&D; increase in life 

 sciences research "targeted" toward specific 

 disease areas accounts in part for the declining 

 fraction of basic research obligated in recent 

 years by this agency. 



Basic research obligations. Obligations for 

 basic research alone are shown in figure 3-5 for 

 each of the six agencies, as well as for all other 

 agencies combined. Current dollar obligations 

 were higher in 1974 than 1973 in each of the six 

 agencies other than DOD and NASA. In 

 contrast, constant dollar obligations declined in 

 all agencies other than HEW. 



The principal scientific disciplines supported 

 by each of these agencies" and the agency 

 missions which generated the need for basic 

 research in 1974 were: 



NASA. The physical and environmental 

 sciences receive some 75 percent of all 

 NASA's basic research obligations, primarily 

 in connection with lunar and space explora- 

 tion. 



HEW. Some 80 percent of HE W's obligations 

 for basic research are directed to the life 



sciences, principally for biomedical research, 

 and almost 6 percent to the social sciences 

 for research in areas such as education and 

 drug abuse. 



NSF. Over 30 percent of this agency's basic 

 research obligations are for the physical 

 sciences, with 23 percent for the en- 

 vironmental sciences, lb percent for the life 

 sciences, and 11 percent for engineering. 

 The broad purpose of the research is to 

 advance the state of basic scientific 

 knowledge. 



AEC. The physical sciences receive almost 

 80 percent of AEC's basic research 

 obligations and the life sciences nearly 13 

 percent — principally in high energy physics 

 and in nuclear sciences. The purpose of this 

 research is to generate the foundation for 

 the development and utilization of atomic 

 energy. 



DOD. Engineering accounts for 29 percent 

 of DOD's obligations for basic research, 

 physical and environmental sciences 22 

 percent each, and the life sciences about 12 

 percent. The prime aim of the research is to 

 provide the fundamental knowledge needed 

 for developing future military systems and 

 improved operations. 



USDA. The life sciences receive some 70 

 percent and the physical sciences nearly 15 



" federal Funds /or Research, Devehprnent, and Other Siientific 

 Adwities. Fiscal Years 1973, J 974 and 1975, Vol. XXIII, National 

 Science Foundation (NSF 74-320-A). 



56 



