Analysis
Since the 1950s, Federal R&D Funding Has Shifted from Development to Research
June 18, 2025
Between FY 1956 and FY 2024, the share of federal obligations for research, including both basic and applied research, increased from 26% to 49% of the federal government’s total of research and development (R&D) and R&D plant, whereas the share for development decreased from 65% to 48%. During the same period, the share for R&D plant decreased from 9% to 3%.
Analysis
Measuring America’s Progress in Science, Technology, and Innovation
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