Government Funding
$27 million award bolsters research computing grid
June 21, 2012 9:33 am | News | CommentsThe U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and the National Science Foundation have committed up to $27 million to Open Science Grid, a nine-member partnership extending the reach of distributed high-throughput computing networks.
Report: Research universities essential for U.S. prosperity, security
June 15, 2012 7:41 am | News | CommentsAmerica's research universities are essential for U.S. prosperity and security, but in danger of serious decline unless the federal government, states, and industry take action to ensure adequate, stable funding in the next decade, according to a report issued by the National Research Council.
Startup secures funding for development of cell delivery technology
June 13, 2012 10:45 am | News | CommentsCell-based therapies have yet to reach their full potential in repairing damaged tissue because of the hostile environment the cells face once injected into the body. To address this problem, a startup company based on technology developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology is creating an efficient, safe, and repeatable delivery method that protects cells from death and migration from the treatment site.
Women researchers more likely to conduct scientific outreach
May 11, 2012 9:05 am | News | CommentsIn recent years, scientists have been under scrutiny to demonstrate the public relevance of their government-funded research. A new study from Rice University and Southern Methodist University finds that women are much more involved in these outreach efforts than their male counterparts.
Cybersecurity experts investigate self-adapting computer network
May 10, 2012 8:26 am | News | CommentsIn the online struggle for network security, Kansas State University cybersecurity experts are adding an ally to the security force: the computer network itself. The team is researching the feasibility of building a computer network that could protect itself against online attackers by automatically changing its setup and configuration.
Georgia Tech receives $3.1 M for nuclear energy research, education
May 10, 2012 8:13 am | News | CommentsGeorgia Institute of Technology has been awarded $3.1 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for research and scholarships focused on nuclear energy. The money will go to three research projects focused on developing new and advanced nuclear reactor designs and technologies, while addressing their cost, safety, and security.
NASA collecting ideas on new strategy for exploring the Red Planet
April 16, 2012 3:36 am | News | CommentsStarting Friday, NASA’s Mars Program Planning Group began accepting ideas and abstracts online from the worldwide scientific and technical community as part of NASA's effort to seek out the best and the brightest ideas from researchers and engineers in planetary science. They hope to develop a new strategy for the exploration of Mars.
R & D caucus highlights NSF's tie to innovation
April 2, 2012 5:32 am | News | CommentsLast Friday, the National Science Foundation held a congressional briefing to call attention to its research successes, particularly the process of bringing relevant fundamental research from the laboratory to the marketplace. Particular attention was called to Small Business Innovation Research grant beneficiaries, some of whom shared their success stories at the briefing.
President proposes national network for manufacturing innovation
March 10, 2012 6:49 am | News | CommentsAfter touring the Rolls-Royce Crosspointe jet engine disc manufacturing facility in Prince George, Va., on March 9, President Obama announced his intention to build a network of up to 15 manufacturing innovation institutes to serve as regional hubs of manufacturing excellence. The move is intended to make U.S. manufacturers more competitive and encourage investment.
Unwinding nature’s clocks, with $14M from DARPA
March 2, 2012 10:15 am | News | CommentsFrom the time we eat breakfast to when we leave work, mechanical clocks control a large part of our lives. But we, and other creatures, also have biological clocks that regulate just about every function in our bodies. Scientists know our biological clocks are coordinated, but they aren't sure how. Using a $14 million grant from DARPA, a team from Duke and other universities will be looking more closely at the timepieces that drive life.
Brookhaven Lab, BMI collaborate to build advanced cancer therapy accelerator
February 27, 2012 5:47 am | by Justin Eure, Brookhaven National Laboratory | News | CommentsA new collaboration between Brookhaven National Laboratory and Best Medical International (BMI) aims to design one of the most dynamic and effective cancer therapy devices in the world. The ion Rapidly Cycling Medical Synchrotron (iRCMS) draws on the particle acceleration expertise of Brookhaven Laboratory physicists and the medical experience of BMI to advance cancer therapy, particularly the evolving use of carbon and other light ions.
DARPA to develop mobile millimeter-wave backhaul networks
February 13, 2012 3:41 am | News | CommentsProviding high-bandwidth communications for troops in remote forward operating locations is not only critical but also challenging because a reliable infrastructure optimized for remote geographic areas does not exist. DARPA recently announced the Fixed Wireless at a Distance program seeks to tackle the problem of stationary infrastructure designed specifically to overcome the challenge inherent with cell communication in remote areas.
Researchers design eye-enhancing virtual reality contact lenses
February 1, 2012 7:51 am | News | CommentsCurrently being developed by DARPA researchers at Washington-based Innovega iOptiks are contact lenses that enhance normal vision by allowing a wearer to view virtual and augmented reality images without the need for bulky apparatus.
Pharma's niche focus spurs U.S. aid for antibiotics
January 26, 2012 11:28 am | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsThe pharmaceutical industry won approval to market a record number of new drugs for rare diseases last year, as a combination of scientific innovation and business opportunity spurred new treatments for diseases long-ignored by drug companies. Many of these so-called orphan drugs offer extra patent protections and faster government approval.
Georgia Tech spinoff secures funding for phone security technology
January 26, 2012 7:29 am | News | CommentsHow can you be sure that an incoming phone call is really from a customer and not an overseas criminal intent on fraud? For major financial services companies, that's a growing concern as the telephone system adopts Internet technologies—and the security issues that come with them. A startup company based on technology developed at Georgia Tech offers a solution to that challenge.
Scientists pause research with lab-bred bird flu
January 23, 2012 2:19 am | by Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsAfter two laboratories reported created new, easier-to-spread version of the deadly bird flu viruses, research was temporarily halted on Jan. 20. The pause comes as fierce debate intensifies over how to handle this high-risk research.
DOE to spur construction of small modular nuclear reactors
January 20, 2012 12:04 pm | News | CommentsThrough a draft Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) announced Friday, the U.S> Department of Energy plans to establish cost-shared agreements with private industry to support the design and licensing of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). About one-third the size of current nuclear plants, SMR are expected to both safer and cheaper to build and operate.
Georgia Tech receives $1.5 M to create collaborative vehicle design capability
January 17, 2012 8:14 am | News | CommentsThe Georgia Tech Research Institute has received a $1.5 million contract to produce an online environment that would let multiple design teams work together to develop new military vehicles. The VehicleForge project's goal is to create a secure central Website and other Web-based tools and methods that would facilitate such collaborative development.
Ariel Pharmaceuticals signs CRADA with U.S. military
January 11, 2012 5:12 am | News | CommentsAriel Pharmaceuticals, a private, development-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products for indications in acute central nervous system diseases and trauma, announced it has signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the United States Army Medical Research and Material Command.
Nobel history illustrates gap in grants to young scientists
January 11, 2012 3:28 am | News | CommentsA new study by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy illustrates a disconnect between government funding of biomedical research by young investigators and a novel standard by which to judge it: The Nobel Prize.
2012 Global R & D Funding Forecast: Stable Growth of U.S. R & D
December 16, 2011 4:33 am | by Martin Grueber, Research Leader, Battelle and Tim Studt, Editor-in-Chief, Advantage Business Media | Articles | CommentsAs 2012 approaches, U.S. investment in research has stabilized, but growth still lags previous years as a result of the sluggish economy. Given the current federal budget situation and announcements by a number of high-profile corporations regarding planned reductions in R&D spending, the stable, slow-growth trajectory that developed in 2011 will likely continue through 2012.
2012 Global R & D Funding Forecast: FY 2012 U.S. Federal R & D Funding: Continued Constraints
December 16, 2011 4:27 am | by Martin Grueber, Research Leader, Battelle and Tim Studt, Editor-in-Chief, Advantage Business Media | Articles | CommentsWe estimate that federal R&D funding will reach $140.9 billion in FY 2012, a decline of 1.8% from our estimate of actual FY 2011 R&D funding ($143.5 billion) and 4.7% lower than the administration's FY 2012 R&D funding request.
2012 Global R & D Funding Forecast: Industrial R & D—Manufacturing
December 16, 2011 4:22 am | by Martin Grueber, Research Leader, Battelle and Tim Studt, Editor-in-Chief, Advantage Business Media | Articles | CommentsIn the next sections we examine, through survey and secondary data, five technology-intensive industries chosen for their overall importance in terms of U.S. corporate R&D, U.S. federal R&D, and global industry R&D. Besides these industries, a more diverse set of manufacturing firms and industries—including automotive, heavy equipment, consumer products, and food—also perform significant R&D activities in the U.S.
2012 Global R & D Funding Forecast: Industrial R & D—Life Science
December 16, 2011 4:15 am | by Martin Grueber, Research Leader, Battelle and Tim Studt, Editor-in-Chief, Advantage Business Media | Articles | CommentsThe life science segment includes diverse firms such as multinational pharmaceutical corporations, large medical device and instrument companies, and both large and small biotechnology firms. Though primarily engaged in human health care, firms in this segment are also involved in animal health and agricultural biosciences, and many operate in multiple areas.
2012 Global R & D Funding Forecast: Industrial R & D—ICT
December 16, 2011 4:07 am | by Martin Grueber, Research Leader, Battelle and Tim Studt, Editor-in-Chief, Advantage Business Media | Articles | CommentsOver the past 20 years, information and communication technologies (ICT) have been a key innovation enabler in many domains and have dramatically changed social behavior around the globe. In the past decade, the fortunes of many ICT companies have evolved significantly.
