What is the Information Technology Research program?
- By Paula Shaki Trimble
- May 15, 2000
The program is managed by the National Science Foundation's
Computer and Information Science and Engineering directorate. ITR supports
fundamental research in information technology, encouraging research spanning
IT and scientific applications and in social, ethical and work force issues.
It responds directly to recommendations from the President's Information
Technology Advisory Committee for basic research in software, scalable information
infrastructure, high-end computing and socioeconomic impacts.
What is the ITR budget?
In fiscal 2000, NSF's ITR budget is $126 million. A $36 million portion
goes to a single terascale supercomputing facility, for which proposals
were received in early April. The other $90 million is devoted to IT research
across all areas of science. The departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy,
and Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and
NASA also contribute to the ITR effort.
When will ITR awards be made?
Proposals are being reviewed and awards are expected this summer. NSF
received 1,154 final proposals for amounts under $500,000 and 263 final
proposals for amounts over $500,000.