The Science Coalition (TSC) strongly supports President Barack Obama's efforts to increase investment in basic research as a means to spur innovation and fuel the economy.
Speaking today at a community college in Troy, New York, the President articulated his strategy for innovation, which has at its core support for research and development. In order to restore America's leadership in fundamental research, the President called for doubling the R&D budgets of key science agencies, investing three percent of GDP in R&D, and making the R&E tax credit permanent.
"We applaud the President's proposals that would help provide sustained funding for research," said Science Coalition President Bill Andresen. "President Obama and Congressional leaders recognize that basic research is an essential ingredient to innovation and jobs creation and they helped to kick-start this process with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. However, research is an ongoing process that requires strong and sustained funding, which is why the President's comments today are so welcome," Andresen said.
Research fuels the discoveries that create new technologies, businesses and industries and that lead to jobs creation. Federal funding for research that is sustained and predictable year-to-year is critical to the research process. Further, certainty of funding is one key to attracting and retaining the pool of talented scientists, engineers and researchers America needs to tackle the challenges ahead.
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