Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy: CRS Experts

August 28, 2012 – May 9, 2018 R42688

cience, technology, and innovation (STI) play important roles in the nation’s economic and military strength, public health and safety, and the quality of our lives. Individuals, companies, governments, universities, and other organizations fund, conduct, disseminate, and acquire science and technology for a myriad of purposes. Among the purposes: providing for the national defense and homeland security; improving manufacturing processes and enabling the manufacture of new products; developing new materials; advancing computing and communications tools; preventing and treating disease, illness, and injury; developing new medicines, diagnostic tools, and therapies; understanding Earth’s climate and weather; improving nutrition, crop yields, and food safety; reducing emissions; remediating environmental damage; improving energy efficiency and expanding energy production; exploring space; improving and enhancing education; and understanding the origins of our universe and its governing rules.

The federal government supports a wide range of research and development (R&D) activities that support federal agencies in the conduct of their missions; underpin development of new fields of science and technology; enable innovation and productivity improvements that support economic growth and job creation; and support policymaking in areas such as regulation. In addition, the federal government plays a role in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Many federal government programs seek to foster a strong U.S. science and engineering workforce for industry, government, and academia. Federal agencies also collect and disseminate data that bear on science, technology, and innovation, including public and private R&D funding levels; the number of students earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in STEM fields; and the size and composition of the nation’s scientific and engineering workforce.

Science, technology, innovation, competitiveness, engineering, mathematics, research, R&D, development, experimentation, R&E, nanotechnology, biotechnology, cognitive science, genetics, information technology, superconductor, nuclear, solar, renewable, stem cells, biologics, high performance computing, supercomputers, Internet, standards, intellectual property, patents, copyright, broadband, spectrum, pharmaceuticals, Networking and Information Technology, Research and Development, NITRD, HPCC, National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, NNMI, National Nanotechnology Initiative, NNI, climate change, robotics, cybersecurity, National Science and Technology Council, NSTC, Office of Science and Technology Policy, OSTP, DARPA, ARPA-E, HS-ARPA, iARPA, ARPA-Ed, NIST, national laboratories, STEM, technology transfer, cooperative research and development agreement, consortia, consortium, CRADA, SBIR, STTR, Small Business Innovation Research, FFRDC, doubling, America COMPETES Act, e-books, educational technology, P.L. 110-69, P.L. 111-358, P.L. 108-153, P.L. 112-81. Science, technology, innovation, competitiveness, engineering, mathematics, research, R&D, development, experimentation, R&E, nanotechnology, biotechnology, cognitive science, genetics, information technology, superconductor, nuclear, solar, renewable, stem cells, biologics, high performance computing, supercomputers, Internet, standards, intellectual property, patents, copyright, broadband, spectrum, pharmaceuticals, Networking and Information Technology Research and Development, NITRD, HPCC, National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, NNMI, National Nanotechnology Initiative, NNI, climate change, robotics, cybersecurity, National Science and Technology Council, NSTC, Office of Science and Technology Policy, OSTP, DARPA, ARPA-E, HS-ARPA, iARPA, ARPA-Ed, NIST, national laboratories, STEM, technology transfer, cooperative research and development agreement, consortia, consortium, CRADA, federally-funded research and development center, FFRDC, America COMPETES Act, e-books, educational technology, P.L. 110-69, P.L. 111-358, P.L. 108-153, P.L. 112-81.

Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy: CRS Experts

May 9, 2018 (R42688)

Science, technology, and innovation (STI) play important roles in the nation's economic and military strength, public health and safety, and the quality of our lives. Individuals, companies, governments, universities, and other organizations fund, conduct, disseminate, and acquire science and technology for a myriad of purposes. Among the purposes: providing for the national defense and homeland security; improving manufacturing processes and enabling the manufacture of new products; developing new materials; advancing computing and communications tools; preventing and treating disease, illness, and injury; developing new medicines, diagnostic tools, and therapies; understanding Earth's climate and weather; improving nutrition, crop yields, and food safety; reducing emissions; remediating environmental damage; improving energy efficiency and expanding energy production; exploring space; improving and enhancing education; and understanding the origins of our universe and its governing rules.

The federal government supports a wide range of research and development (R&D) activities that support federal agencies in the conduct of their missions; underpin development of new fields of science and technology; enable innovation and productivity improvements that support economic growth and job creation; and support policymaking in areas such as regulation. In addition, the federal government plays a role in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Many federal government programs seek to foster a strong U.S. science and engineering workforce for industry, government, and academia. Federal agencies also collect and disseminate data that bear on science, technology, and innovation, including public and private R&D funding levels; the number of students earning bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in STEM fields; and the size and composition of the nation's scientific and engineering workforce.

Congress has an extensive role in federal science, technology, and innovation policies, including authorizing programs and funding, making appropriations, and conducting oversight activities. The following table provides names and contact information for CRS experts on these issues.

Legislative Issue	Name/Title	Phone	Email
Science, Technology, and Innovation
21^st Century Nanotechnology R&D Act and Reauthorization	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Additive/3-D Manufacturing	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Industrial Organization and Business	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
America COMPETES Act and Reauthorization	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Battery Manufacturing for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Industrial Organization and Business	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Educational Technologies (K-12)	Kyrie Dragoo Analyst in Education Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Environmental Regulation and Compliance	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Follow-on Biologics	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Genetic Testing	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Innovation Prizes	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Biomedical Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Intellectual Property: Patents and Copyrights	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Internet Governance	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Medical Device Regulation	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Biomedical Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Patents and Pharmaceutical Innovation	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Publishing of Scientific Papers with Potential Security Risks	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Technology Transfer	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Research and Development: Federal Agencies
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Executive Office of the President	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Agriculture (USDA)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Agricultural Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Commerce: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Commerce: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Defense (DOD)	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Energy (DOE)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of the Interior (DOI)	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of the Interior: U.S. Geological Service (USGS)	Pervaze Sheikh Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Transportation (DOT)	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Institutes of Health (NIH)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Biomedical Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Science Foundation (NSF)	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Research and Development: Multi-agency Initiatives
Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP)	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Materials Genome Initiative (MGI)	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development program (NITRD)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Research and Development: Selected Topics and Fields
Federally Funded Academic Research Regulations	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Artificial Intelligence	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Autonomous Vehicles	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Industrial Organization and Business	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Biodefense	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Carbon Capture and Sequestration	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Climate Science	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Cooperative Research and Development	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Competitiveness	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Cybersecurity	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Cybersecurity Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Senior Specialist in Science and Technology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Defense	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Federal R&D Funding for Historically-Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC)	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Gene Editing	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed]	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Government, Industry, and University R&D Data	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Biomedical Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Homeland Security	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Nonproliferation	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Manufacturing	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Nanotechnology	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Public-Private R&D Partnerships	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Research and Experimentation (R&E) Tax Credit	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Space Exploration	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Stem Cell Research	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Biomedical Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Selected Research, Development, and Innovation-related Programs
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP)	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI)/Manufacturing USA	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)) programs	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Workforce
STEM Education	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Education Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Cybersecurity Education	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Education Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
STEM Workforce	John F. Sargent Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration of Foreign Scientists and Engineers	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Visas for Foreign STEM Students	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Telecommunications Policy
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
First Responders Network/ Next Generation Communications for Public Safety	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Internet Freedom	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Broadband Plan	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Spectrum Policy	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Laurie Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Universal Service Fund	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])