According to U.S. officials overseeing federal technology programs, the White House is seeking $132 billion next year for basic research. Nanotechnology research and development funding would reach $1 billion under the spending plan.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, Gaithersburg, Md.) is slated to receive a nearly $22 million budget increase over last year to $521.5 million. The agency oversees a large chunk of non-military research efforts.

Another Commerce Department agency, the Bureau of Industry and Security, would receive an $8.1 million spending increase in fiscal 2005. Part of that increase would be used to beef up enforcement of technology export controls. The request also includes $2 million to create an Office of Technology Evaluation to assess sensitive technology exports.

The initiative would address industry complaints about overly restrictive U.S. export controls on technologies that American companies claim are widely available. The Bush administration is promoting a "smart export controls" program that would focus on the impact of technology exports on national security "without unnecessarily burdening U.S. exporters," the administration said.

Among a handful of tax cuts included in the $2.4 trillion budget request, the Bush administration is also proposing a permanent extension of the R&D tax credit. The proposal has consistently failed to win congressional approval despite heavy industry lobbying. With record budget deficits forecast for fiscal 2005 and beyond, analysts said the proposal's chances for passage this year remain slim.

The Pentagon's proposed 7-percent spending increase in fiscal 2005 includes a nearly $4.3 billion increase in research and development programs. No weapons programs would be cut under the Bush spending plan.