Committee Hears about Progress, Potential in Field of Information Technology

Today, the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing on Networking and Information Technology Research and Development, or NITRD, in preparation to introduce the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2009.

“Information technology is a major driver of economic growth,” said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “Advances in the field have the potential to dramatically influence all aspects of our lives from manufacturing and healthcare to education and entertainment. There has been breathtaking progress in the field of information technology—innovations like the Internet, open-source software and laptop computers—but I believe the best is yet to come.”

Members heard testimony in preparation to introduce the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2009. The legislation is based on findings and recommendations included in a recent assessment of the program conducted by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and proposes changes to the research content and planning and implementation mechanisms of the program.

First, the legislation addresses the PCAST recommendation to strengthen the planning, coordination, and prioritization components of the program by requiring the development and periodic update of a strategic plan that will create a vision for information technology R&D, allowing for continued technological breakthrough and maintaining U.S. leadership.

Next, the legislation addresses the PCAST recommendation for increased support of large-scale, long-term, interdisciplinary research by creating large-scale R&D awards that not only encourage collaboration among the NITRD agencies, but also promote collaborations between academic and industry researchers.

Finally, the legislation will highlight the need for increased research in the area of cyber-physical systems, which are computer-driven systems connected with the physical world. The legislation calls for an industry/university task force to explore mechanisms for carrying out collaborative R&D in this important area.

“The prevalence of cyber-physical systems, like the power grid and home healthcare devices, is likely to increase,” said Gordon. “We need to foster innovation and technical advances to realize their full potential.”

For more information, please see the Committee’s website.

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