On August 27, 2021, the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Science and Technology Policy released their annual memo outlining the administration’s multi-agency research and development priorities for the FY2023 budget. The administration calls for continued investments in research and development, STEM education and engagement, workforce development, technology transfer, research infrastructure, and investment in HBCUs, MSIs, and communities who have been historically underserved.
The memo outlines the following multi-agency priorities:
Pandemic readiness and prevention: Agencies are directed to invest in early warning systems; diagnostics; therapies; vaccine development and manufacturing; data infrastructure; workforce development; and investment in rural areas, underserved communities, and military health systems.
Addressing climate change: The administration calls for a whole-of-Government approach to address climate change and for agencies to prioritize increasing public use of climate data; investments in clean energy technologies and infrastructure; interdisciplinary research integrating the physical and natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences; engagement with historically underserved communities, pursuit of nature-based climate solutions; and measurement and monitoring emissions and the outcomes of climate investments.
Critical and emerging technologies: Agencies are directed to collaborate on critical and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum information science, advanced communications technologies, microelectronics, high-performance computing, biotechnology, robotics, and space technologies. The administration also directs agencies to pursue public-private partnerships to support technology development in these areas.
Innovation for equity: The administration is implementing a whole-of-Government equity agenda and calls for federal agencies to invest in R&D programs that address equity issues including expanding inclusion in science and technology programs, advancing research and data infrastructure for health equity, and improving workforce diversity and equity.
National security and economic resilience: Agencies should support research, development, and application of technologies that strengthen national security and economic resilience including biosecurity and biosafety, defending critical infrastructure against supply chain and cybersecurity attacks, and ensuring reliable access and manufacturing of critical materials.
Domestic manufacturing: The administration directs federally funded R&D investments to promote domestic manufacturing and job creation in the United States, including in historically underserved communities.
STEM education and engagement: Agencies are directed to develop measurable strategies to promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility across all R&D focus areas through a new Models of Equitable STEM Excellence initiative. Investments should support instructional, organizational, institutional, and informal learning environments
The full memo can be accessed here.
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