Scientists Propose “Discovery Compact” to Reinforce U.S. Basic Research Funding

A perspective article on Phys.org by physicist Sergio Carbajo and collaborators argues that the United States requires a fresh social contract—named the “Discovery Compact”—to re‑establish a stable base for basic scientific research that has been weakening in recent years.

The post‑World‑War‑II period forged an implicit pact among the federal government, universities and industry, directing sizable, long‑term resources toward exploratory science. Institutions such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy created a pipeline that yielded the transistor, the human genome and other breakthroughs, securing America’s dominance in innovation for decades.

The team maintains that this historic compact has become fragile due to shifting budget priorities, intensified partisan disputes over research money, and an increasing focus on short‑term, mission‑driven projects. Their proposal sets out shared principles: a bipartisan pledge to multi‑year funding, a transparent merit‑based review process, and mechanisms for broader public engagement that communicate the societal worth of discovery‑driven work.

Reinstating a resilient funding structure is crucial because basic research drives long‑term technological advancement, economic growth and national security. Without a dependable foundation, the pipeline that transforms laboratory insights into commercial products may dry up, leaving the United States at risk of falling behind rising scientific powers.

Carbajo and his co‑authors urge legislators, agency heads and the research community to start a conversation about the Discovery Compact and to consider concrete policy actions, such as legislation that earmarks stable percentages of the federal budget for fundamental science. They contend that a refreshed social contract could restore the confidence universities and labs need to pursue high‑risk, high‑reward investigations that have historically reshaped the world.