GOVERNMENT & POLICY CONCENTRATES
U.S. R&D SUPPORT RISES IN 2013 Spending on R&D in the U.S. rose to an all-time high of $453 billion in 2013, up $21 billion from 2012, according to a new NSF report. This comes after almost flat spending in this area during the years immediately after the 2008 recession. Most of the increase comes from improved R&D spending by businesses, while federal funding has been flat or even declined, the report says. Businesses continue to be the largest source of R&D funds in the U.S. at 65%, or $297 billion, followed by the federal government with 27%, or $122 billion. Colleges and universities, nonprofits, and state and local governments round out the supporters of U.S. R&D. The vast majority of this spending went to development of products at $285 billion, or 63%. Basic research received $81 billion, or 18% of the funding, and applied research $91 billion, or 20%. The amount of R&D spending compared with the U.S. gross domestic product—also called R&D intensity—rose to 2.72%, which remains lower than the peak of 2.81% in 2009.—AW
POLYSTYRENE BAN OVERTURNED
SHUTTERSTOCK
In a victory for chemical manufacturers and polystyrene product makers, a judge last week overturned New York City’s ban on plastic foam food containers. Earlier this year, the city’s sanitation commissioner determined that single-use expanded polystyrene containers, such as coffee cups and clamshell containers for carryout food, cannot be recycled economically. That, in turn, triggered a citywide ban on retailA trial court ers’ use of these plastic says recycling containers as of July 1. polystyrene food Foam food and bevercontainers could age container makers save New York City money. joined city restaurants in fighting the ban, arguing that expanded polystyrene can indeed be recycled. A trial judge agreed, finding that the city could save money by recycling at least part of its polystyrene waste and order-
WHITE HOUSE TELLS AGENCIES TO PREPARE FOR SHUTDOWN The White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) has told federal agencies to start preparing for a possible government shutdown this week. Federal funding expires on Sept. 30. Unless Congress approves temporary or permanent funding for fiscal 2016, the government will shut down on Oct. 1. So far, Congress has shown few signs of a compromise over controversial issues that are holding up a vote. These include defunding Planned Parenthood and the Affordable Care Act and reversing budget caps known as sequestration. Earlier this summer, OMB told federal agencies to update their shutdown plans, but those have not yet been publically released. If a 16-day shutdown in 2013 is any indication, only employees considered essential by their agencies will be allowed to continue working as of Oct. 1, mostly without pay. That means most federal scientists would be forced to leave their laboratories and stay away. In addition, disbursement of grants and the peer review process would come to a halt. Regulatory reviews and inspections would stop until government funding is in place.—AW ing the sanitation commissioner to reconsider the issue. Michael Westerfield of Dart Container, a major producer of polystyrene containers and one of the plaintiffs in the case, says, “The victory here is for the environment and for recycling.” Chemical makers had fought the ban but were not part of the lawsuit. Now, the administration of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is weighing its options on how to restore the ban.—CH
NSF OFFERS $81 MILLION FOR NANOTECH RESEARCH NSF is making $81 million available over five years to support nanotechnology research by academic, small business, and industry researchers. The National Nanotechnology Coordination Infrastructure (NNCI), announced this month, comprises 16 sites hosted at universities across the U.S. that will increase access to facilities, instrumentation, and expertise in nanotechnology, the agency says. For example, the North Carolina Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network at North Carolina State University is focusing part of its effort on providing businesses access to expertise and facilities to speed the development of new nanotechnology-based products. The awards, which provide up to five years of funding and range from $500,000 to $1.6 million each per year, are funded by all NSF directorates and its Office of International Science & Engineering. “NNCI will serve as a nationwide backbone for nanoscale research, which CEN.ACS.ORG
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will lead to continuing innovations and economic and societal benefits,” said Pramod Khargonekar, NSF assistant director for engineering.—JM
INVESTMENT IN FOSSIL FUELS REMAINS HIGH GLOBALLY The world’s richest countries plus six key emerging economies including China and Brazil together are providing between $160 billion and $200 billion per year to support fossil-fuel production and use, according to an international report. “This support is hampering global efforts to curb emissions and combat climate change,” says the report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OCED), which consists of the world’s 34 most well-off countries. The report examines direct government spending and tax breaks in OECD countries as well as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa. These government actions reduce prices for consumers and lower exploration costs for oil and gas companies. In the U.S., for example, these supports back fossilenergy research and development as well as low-income home energy assistance. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría says that these governments are spending almost twice as much money supporting fossil fuels as the amount needed to meet an international policy goal of governments providing $100,000 per year in climate-change-related aid to developing countries by 2020.—CH
