15 



Budget by Key Program Function 



(Dollars in Millions) 



NSF supports multi-user research facilities that are characteristically large, complicated, and expensive, 

 requiring long-term commitments of support In FY 1997, NSF devotes particular attention to this function 



• NSF will maintain funding for research facilities at approximately 20-25 percent of the total NSF program 

 budget. In FY 1 997, facilities will account for 2 1 percent of the program budget 



• In order to accommodate other priorities, NSF has eliminated support for research facilities under the 

 Academic Research Infrastructure program. This is consistent with recommendations presented in the 

 NPR September 1995 report. Common Sense Government: Works Better and Costs Less, that this 

 activity might reasonably be accommodated by academic institutions, states, and the private sector 



Action to Bridge across Boundaries 



Nature and excellence know no boundaries, yet there are many boundaries, either real or perceived, in the 

 funding of research and education in science and engineering NSF is undertaking positive action to 

 eliminate organizational and other barriers to interdisciplinary research, to reinvigorate the interaction 

 between research and education, and to draw upon the full range of perspectives and approaches for 

 promoting progress in science and engineering. 



• NSF continues to sponsor cross-cutting research and education activities that relate directly to such 

 national priorities as promoting economic prosperity, protecting the environment, rebuilding the nation's 

 infrastructure, and strengthening the nation's schools. 



• In a set of activities ranging from research experiences for undergraduates through comprehensive 

 undergraduate education reform, graduate traineeships, and awards to new investigators with both 

 research and education objectives, NSF emphasizes the ties between research and education and 

 moves to reinforce them 



• In FY 1995, congressional appropriators provided NSF the flexibility to pursue unusually promising cross- 

 cutting activities through creation of an Opportunity Fund NSF has used this flexibility to accelerate 

 investment in emerging areas and will continue to do so in FY 1997. 



Reformulating and Promoting Partnerships 



Partnerships bring together the best minds in our society as they help to share the fiscal responsibilities for 

 research and education. Promoting partnerships is a core strategy from NSF's strategic plan that is 

 particularly relevant to today's rapidly shifting environment for science and engineering Whether it is the 



