The Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI, IPA: stɪpi "stip-ee") is a

federally funded research and development center Federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) are public-private partnerships that conduct research and development for the United States Government. Under Federal Acquisition Regulationbr>§ 35.017 FFRDCs are operated by univ ...

located in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

STPI provides objective research and analysis on science and

technology policy There are several approaches to defining the substance and scope of technology policy. According to the American scientist and policy advisor Lewis M. Branscomb, technology policy concerns the "public means for nurturing those capabilities and opt ...

issues in support of the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C., NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. preside ...

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), as well as for its sponsor, the

National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the United States government that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National ...

, and other science-performing federal agencies. STPI is administered by the non-profit Institute for Defense Analyses, located in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of downtown Washington, D.C. In 2020, the population was 159,467. ...

. As of May 2020, Kristen Kulinowski is the current director of STPI.

History

In 1990, Congress chartered the Critical Technologies Institute (CTI) through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991. This law established CTI as a

under the sponsorship of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and supported by appropriations from the

Department of Defense Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philippin ...

. During this period, CTI was administered by

RAND Corporation The RAND Corporation (from the phrase "research and development") is an American nonprofit global policy think tank created in 1948 by Douglas Aircraft Company to offer research and analysis to the United States Armed Forces. It is financ ...

. In 1998, Congress enacted the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998, changing the name of the Critical Technologies Institute to the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI). This act also changed the sponsorship of STPI from the Department of Defense to the National Science Foundation and amended the institute's duties. In 2003, RAND Corporation was replaced by the Institute for Defense Analyses as the administrator of STPI. As of 2020, there are approximately 40 individuals employed full-time, and STPI is able to contract for additional expertise on specific projects. Further, STPI is able to call upon approximately 800 of the IDA's other employees for project aid when necessary.

Sponsors and responsibilities

The Science and Technology Policy Institute's primary sponsor is the

National Science Foundation (NSF) The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the United States government that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National I ...

, which is the main source of appropriations for STPI. NSF STPI funding for fiscal year 2020 is reported to be $4.74 million. STPI's primary customer is the

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The work at STPI primarily focuses on supporting OSTP and its director, as well as his role as a co-chair of the

United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is a council, chartered (or re-chartered) in each administration with a broad mandate to advise the president of the United States on science and technology. The current PCAST w ...

. STPI also provides analytical support to the

, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the

Department of Energy A Ministry of Energy or Department of Energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-relat ...

, the

Department of Health and Human Services The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government created to protect the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is ...

, the Department of Transportation, and other science-performing federal agencies within the

executive branch of the United States government The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a feder ...

. STPI provides technical analysis in a broad range of science and technology topics, including innovation, environment and energy, STEM education and workforce, space and aviation, life sciences, and

scientometrics Scientometrics is the field of study which concerns itself with measuring and analysing scholarly literature. Scientometrics is a sub-field of informetrics. Major research issues include the measurement of the impact of research papers and academ ...

. The institute is responsible for compiling, analyzing, and interpreting information on significant science and technology research developments and trends, both in the United States and abroad. In particular, emphasis is placed on how the scope and content of federal science and technology research and development affects national and interagency issues. Other STPI duties include initiating studies and analyses to determine appropriate roles for federal and state governments, higher education institutions, and private industry in the development and application of science and technology; the primary aim is to support the long-term strength of the United States in science and technology research and development. STPI also provides technical support and assistance to the

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is a council, chartered (or re-chartered) in each administration with a broad mandate to advise the president of the United States on science and technology. The current PCAST w ...

and interagency committees and panels of the federal government concerned with science and technology. STPI is required to submit an annual report to the President regarding progress made towards carrying out the responsibilities of the institute.

Research capabilities

According to the IDA, STPI is able to conduct sponsored research projects in the fields of economics, energy, environment,

, information technologies, innovation and competitiveness, life sciences, international science and technology, national and homeland security, and social and behavioral sciences and education.

Space technology and policy

STPI has a dedicated portfolio of independent and sponsored projects in the following areas related to space policy: space commercialization and legal/policy/regulatory challenges; strategic planning/coordination; space threats; exploration and space science and technology; and international activities. Select reports generated from these projects are available to the public on th
STPI space portfolio website

Fellowships and internships

The STPI offers two-year science and technology policy fellowships to individuals who have recently received bachelor's degrees. Fellows work on research projects with STPI researchers as well as various other federal government organizations including the

Office of Science and Technology Policy An office is a space where an organization's employees perform administrative work in order to support and realize objects and goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a position within an organization with specific d ...

(OSTP) and

National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health, commonly referred to as NIH (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary agency of the United States government The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U ...

. Paid, 10-12 week summer associate internships at IDA's Virginia and Washington, D.C. locations are also offered to current rising senior undergraduate and graduate students. Summer associates work on projects for IDA sponsors such as data analysis, literature reviews, writing reports, and designing projects. * *

References

{{Authority control Think tanks based in Washington, D.C. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers