Research and Development Funding:
Reported Gap Between Data From Federal Agencies and Their R&D Performers Results From Noncomparable Data
GAO-01-512R: Published: May 9, 2001. Publicly Released: May 9, 2001.
Contact:
(202) 512-6877
contact@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
A January report by the National Science Foundation (NSF) identified a $5 billion gap between the amount of money that federal agencies reported as research and development (R&D) support and the amount of money that those who did the R&D work reported as spent in 1998. According to NSF, federal agencies earmarked about $72 billion for R&D support in 1998, while those who carried out the R&D reported spending about $67 billion. GAO found that this gap results primarily from annually comparing two separate and distinct types of financial data--federal obligations and performer expenditures--that are not comparable. In addition, R&D funding are collected on a yearly basis, but,in reporting, the period that defines a year can vary. Furthermore, agencies and performers do not always agree on what type of activities fall under the category of R&D. Because the gap results from comparing two dissimilar types of financial data, it does not necessarily reflect poor-quality data, nor does it reflect whether performers are receiving or spending all the federal R&D funds obligated to them. Thus, even if the data collection and reporting issues were addressed, a gap would still exist.
Jul 23, 2014
Small Business Innovation Research:
DOD's Program Has Developed Some Technologies that Support Military Users, but Lacks Comprehensive Data on Transition OutcomesGAO-14-748T: Published: Jul 23, 2014. Publicly Released: Jul 23, 2014.
Jun 9, 2014
-
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education:
Assessing the Relationship between Education and the WorkforceGAO-14-374: Published: May 8, 2014. Publicly Released: Jun 9, 2014.
May 20, 2014
-
Nanomanufacturing and U.S. Competitiveness:
Challenges and OpportunitiesGAO-14-618T: Published: May 20, 2014. Publicly Released: May 20, 2014.
Feb 7, 2014
-
Nanomanufacturing:
Emergence and Implications for U.S. Competitiveness, the Environment, and Human HealthGAO-14-181SP: Published: Jan 31, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 7, 2014.
Dec 20, 2013
-
Small Business Innovation Research:
DOD's Program Supports Weapon Systems, but Lacks Comprehensive Data on Technology Transition OutcomesGAO-14-96: Published: Dec 20, 2013. Publicly Released: Dec 20, 2013.
Nov 4, 2013
-
Small Business Innovation Research:
Data Rights ProtectionsGAO-14-116R: Published: Nov 4, 2013. Publicly Released: Nov 4, 2013.
Jul 19, 2013
-
America COMPETES Acts:
Overall Appropriations Have Increased and Have Mainly Funded Existing Federal Research EntitiesGAO-13-612: Published: Jul 19, 2013. Publicly Released: Jul 19, 2013.
Apr 10, 2013
-
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education:
Governmentwide Strategy Needed to Better Manage Overlapping ProgramsGAO-13-529T: Published: Apr 10, 2013. Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2013.
Feb 15, 2013
-
Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
Continued Coordination, Operational Data, and Performance Standards Needed to Guide Research and DevelopmentGAO-13-346T: Published: Feb 15, 2013. Publicly Released: Feb 15, 2013.
Jun 20, 2012
-
Nanotechnology:
Improved Performance Information Needed for Environmental, Health, and Safety ResearchGAO-12-427: Published: May 21, 2012. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2012.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Science and Technology
Explore our other Key Issues here
