The new American Competitiveness Initiative, announced in President Bush's state of the union address, commits 5.9 billion in fiscal 2007 and more than $136 billion over the next 10 years to boost research, encourage entrepreneurship and improve science and math education.

Raymond L. Orbach, director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, visited Brown University on March 10 to promote the new initiative and encourage researchers to seek out some of the funding.

In a speech afterward, Orbach said the United States is still the clear-cut leader in technology, but to remain the leader, the country must continue to invest in innovation.

State officials hope federal money could help Rhode Island grow its high-tech sector and become less dependent on tourism.

Earlier this year, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri’s Science and Technology Advisory Council, among other things, recommended budgeting $4 million for research grants, supporting a bond referendum to build a $140 million science center at URI, and creating science and technology tax credits for entrepreneurs, among other measures.

In addition, funds are being sought to improve collaboration between schools, colleges and employers.