President Clinton has announced plans to increase the US science budget by $2.8 billion next year. Clinton plans to spend $475 million on a nanotechnology initiative and $500 million on an information technology research programme. The National Science Foundation (NSF) -- which funds more than 50 percent of the non-medical research in US universities -- will receive an extra $675 million, an increase of 17% on this year. If the budget is approved by the US Congress it will be the largest budget increase in the NSF's history. Over 70% of the funds proposed for the nanotechnology initiative will also go towards university-based research.