The Federal Role in Research and Development

This report from the National Academies Press examines the federal government's role in research and development, focusing on a workshop held in 1985. It explores the economic returns on federal investments in research and development, the principles for federal support of applied research, and the challenges in measuring these returns. The report highlights the complexity of quantifying the benefits of government-funded R&D, noting the lack of disaggregated data and the difficulty of assigning economic value to scientific advancements. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the scientific enterprise, including research training. Aimed at policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders, the publication seeks to inform science and technology policy initiatives.