202 



Congress' concern with equity in funding has two components— geography and institutional 

 development. With geographic equity, each region has the opportunity to develop centers of excellence 

 and con:q>ete for Federal research funds. If the goal is institutional equity, each institution would have 

 an opportunity to rise to prominence through Federal funding. There are 1.300 colleges and 

 universities diat award science and engineering degrees: 100 institutions capture the lion's share of 

 Federal R&D obligations (85 percent) and produce most of die new ni.D.s. Clearly, the Federal 

 Government is unable to increase the budget for every deserving institution in a system of this size (see 

 exhibit 4). 



Congress can choose to build on existing strengdis among research institutions and concentrate 

 Federal dollars accordingly. Or recognizing the diversity of opportunities and expertise embodied by 

 universities. Congress could distribute its resources widely and more evenly. There are good 

 arguments for both propositions, many of which derive from different philosophies about die 

 appropriate Federal role in research. No single model of research support will serve the needs of bodi 

 the Nation and research institutions. Not every institution can, or should be, a "research-intensive 

 universi^.'^ These decisions should reflect long-term agen^ and national goals. 



OTA's 1992 report, A New Technological Em for American Agriculture, extends many of die 

 conchisions of Federally Funded Research, but focuses q>ecifically on agricultural research. 



Findings From A New Teeknological Era for Amerinw AfriniUurr 



Agricultural researdi is embedded in the 'Federal research system." The current funding 

 climate tibs the system away from fundamental research and toward technology, particularly toward 

 linking economic incentives to Federal policies. Thus, USDA should be weil^>ositioned to serve both 

 the Nation's rural economy and die agricultural research community. 



' Ibid., pp. 198-199. This view was uaderecored last year by the President's Council of Advisors on 



Sdeace and Tedmcdogy, Renewing the Promise: Researth-lntensive Universities and the Nation (Washington, 

 DC: U.S. Goverament Priming OfBce, December 1992). 



