The COGR virtual meeting held on February 27, 2024, featured Joel Parriott, Assistant Director for Federal R&D at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP), who provided an update on OSTP’s ongoing initiatives and priorities. Parriott emphasized OSTP’s mission to strengthen the U.S. science, technology, and innovation ecosystem in alignment with national goals covering economic development, health, climate action, and security. He outlined the office’s broad engagements with government agencies, Congress, the private sector, academia, and civil society, with a focus on fostering equity, inclusion, and integrity across all scientific endeavors.
For 2024, OSTP highlighted specific priorities such as advancing artificial intelligence policy, promoting inclusive workforce development, enhancing health outcomes through initiatives like the Cancer Moonshot and pandemic preparedness, tackling climate change, building industrial competitiveness particularly in biotechnology and semiconductor R&D, and safeguarding national security in biosafety and emerging technologies. Parriott noted challenges in aligning federal R&D funding appropriations with legislative authorizations, underscoring the evolving budget environment. Key policy efforts included continued implementation of public access to research findings, with attention to compliance infrastructure and researcher incentives, and updates in research security policy, particularly regarding disclosure forms and foreign talent recruitment. OSTP reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration and open dialogue with stakeholders as it finalizes new standards and policies in the science and technology sector.
