(416d) Funding Agencies Update

The National Science Foundation promotes the progress of engineering in the United States in order to enable the Nation's capacity to perform. Its investments in engineering research and education aim to build and strengthen a national capacity for innovation that can lead over time to the creation of new shared wealth and a better quality of life. Most NSF programs in engineering are funded through the Directorate for Engineering, which also sponsors the NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

The Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) is the lead government program in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that funds R&D to develop efficient technologies for industry, and works to increase the energy efficiency of U.S. industry—which accounts for about one-third of U.S. energy use. In partnership with industry, universities, and DOE national laboratories, ITP helps in research, development, and deployment of innovative technologies that companies can use to improve their energy productivity, reduce carbon emissions, and gain a competitive edge.