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NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

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Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#31

Post by [deleted] »

exe34 wrote: post #19
TimorousBestie wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, this is all well-attested. It’s so weird. Presumably the conservatives still want the US to be a superpower, which presumably includes high-tech capabilities like global power projection, missile defense, and persistent space operations. At the same time they seemingly want a Cultural Revolution-like decimation of intellectuals. I don’t see how they believe they can attain both objectives at once.

> Presumably the conservatives still want the US to be a superpower Why would you presume that? Isn't enough that they get rich and powerful as compared to others around them?

[deleted]

Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#32

Post by counters »

downrightmike wrote: post #22
tlb wrote: post #21

15 years ago you could argue that venture capital wasn't funding enough advanced tech, so ideas were failing to cross the gap from pure research to commercial development. But lately there's capital available for quantum computers, fusion, synthetic bio, space exploration, asteroid mining, and lots more. The government is going to suck at funding the right things. They should leave tech transfer to private investors,…

Tax payers fund the research, they should get a cut of whatever company uses that research.

That would be a crappy trade; today, the public benefits multiple times over as commercialization of technology drives the innovation economy. Who cares about sharing a measly fraction of direct profits when we all get long-term growth of our investment and retirement portfolios at upwards of 10% annually?

Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#33

Post by SoftTalker »

tlb wrote: post #21

15 years ago you could argue that venture capital wasn't funding enough advanced tech, so ideas were failing to cross the gap from pure research to commercial development. But lately there's capital available for quantum computers, fusion, synthetic bio, space exploration, asteroid mining, and lots more. The government is going to suck at funding the right things. They should leave tech transfer to private investors,…

> quantum computers, fusion, synthetic bio, space exploration, asteroid mining

Poster children for tech with no realistic commercial prospects. Projects in these fields have been pipe dreams for decades. Where are any commercial products in the areas of fusion reactors? Quantum computers? Asteroid mining operations?

If private investors want to fund this stuff, fine. As long as they don't come seeking bailouts later.

Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#35

Post by SoftTalker »

TimorousBestie wrote: post #4
contemporary343 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's also a way to reduce funding to universities (which are politically disfavored), since other things like arbitrary reductions to indirect costs didn't work. It also defies both congressional will in the appropriations bill (which is directorate-specific) and of course the whole charter and mandate of NSF, from Vannevar Bush's original case for it.

Yeah, this is all well-attested. It’s so weird. Presumably the conservatives still want the US to be a superpower, which presumably includes high-tech capabilities like global power projection, missile defense, and persistent space operations. At the same time they seemingly want a Cultural Revolution-like decimation of intellectuals. I don’t see how they believe they can attain both objectives at once.

There's at least a subset of them who do not. They want isolationism. Almost a juche sort of mentality. Stop propping up Europe/NATO. "No more foreign wars" was their rallying point. The Iran war really brought them to the surface, a lot of them were very unhappy with the Trump administration about that.

Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#36

Post by Ar-Curunir »

ianm218 wrote: post #23

> By levying such a large tax on its other programs, the agency appears to be defying a congressional directive in the final FY 2026 appropriations bill that “No [NSF] directorate shall receive more than a 5 percent reduction relative to the fiscal year 2024 enacted level.” That language was meant to address fears by the research community and some legislators that NSF, if its overall budget remained flat, might deci…

This is not a positive change. Applied research that makes profits is for industry. Industry will never fund curiosity-driven research in any amount, so the government needs to do it. Redirecting government funding for a function already served by industry is stupid and just another vehicle for corruption.

Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#38

Post by adastra22 »

TimorousBestie wrote: post #2

More or less a handout to the tech industry. This is just the STTR program with even less oversight and a questionable funding source. Curious what the plan is when the academic pipeline for training researchers collapses entirely. AI all the things?

That seems like typical establishment / reactionary push-back. NSF is spinning up Focused Research Organizations, which are very effective ways of getting basic research done that wouldn't otherwise be funded, and to do so in a way that allows for commercial spin-offs. That's not a handout.

Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#39

Post by Ar-Curunir »

charcircuit wrote: post #14

[flagged]

Please don’t say things which reveal how stupid you are.

Essentially all technological advances today stem from fundamental research. It’s fine if you don’t want these advances, but then don’t complain when your life expectancy regresses.

Re: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

#40

Post by counters »

TimorousBestie wrote: post #2

More or less a handout to the tech industry. This is just the STTR program with even less oversight and a questionable funding source. Curious what the plan is when the academic pipeline for training researchers collapses entirely. AI all the things?

But not even. At least in the domain I work in, there is virtually no interest of engaging with these NSF programs. Regardless of what's put in writing in the calls for applicants, there's still a significant prejudice that NSF - by being a part of the government - will be slow and ineffective at administering awards, and therefore it's a waste of time for any agile, fast-moving company.

On the flip-side, my academic colleagues are tearing out their hair trying to get some - any - funding to support their labs. I'm completely inundated with request from colleagues to provide an LOI or some other evidence that our company is interested in working with their lab on something. But that's even _less_ attractive for many private companies!

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