The Senate passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday that would authorize billions of dollars in funding for technology research in the United States, much of which would be available for institutions of higher education.
If the U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness Act — intended to help the U.S. better compete with China — passes the House as is, the National Science Foundation would receive $81 billion over five years, beginning in fiscal year 2022. The bill is largely centered around “key technology focus areas,” which include artificial intelligence, advanced computing, robotics and automation, natural disaster prevention or mitigation, biotechnology and data storage and management.
The allocated funds that would be available for higher education include:
- $9.6 billion for university technology centers: The NSF would establish a competitive award program for institutions to create technology centers that conduct research in one of the key technology focus areas. The centers are expected to be multi-disciplinary and multi-sector.
- $5.2 billion for scholarships and fellowships: Scholarships would be available for community college students, undergraduates, graduate fellowships and postdoctoral awards for those studying in the key technology focus areas. The scholarships would be awarded both directly to students and to colleges and universities.