U.S. may be falling behind in researching tech’s next big thing

By Patrick Thibodeau
Computerworld | Oct 2, 2014 3:30 AM PT The White House has identified cyber-physical system research and development as a “national priority” that could boost U.S. productivity. But federal spending is telling a different story. One of the government’s strongest roles in economic development is funding basic research. This is research that can takes years, and is so risky few private companies will fund it.  
A major source of research dollars is the National Science Foundation (NSF). It will fund more than $40 million in cyber-physical systems research in the 2014 fiscal year, which ended Tuesday. This amounts to about 0.5% of the approximately $7 billion the U.S. spends on basic research through this agency. It has spent, in total, $200 million in this area since 2009, including $35 million in 2013.
 
ComputerWorld/ Article/ http://www.computerworld.com/article/2690713/u-s-may-be-falling-behind-in-researching-tech-s-next-big-thing.html