Scientific research has enabled America to remain at the forefront of global competition for commercially viable technologies and other innovations. For more than 65 years, the United States has led the world in science and technology. Discoveries from scientific research have extended our understanding of the physical and natural world, the cosmos, society, and of humans—their minds, bodies, and economic and other social interactions. Through these discoveries, science has enabled longer and healthier lives, provided for a better-educated citizenry, enhanced the national economy, and strengthened America's position in the global economy. At a time of budget stringency, how can we foster scientific innovation to ensure America's unprecedented prosperity, security, and quality of life?

Although many studies have investigated the impacts of research on society, Furthering America's Research Enterprise brings to bear a fresh approach informed by a more holistic understanding of the research enterprise as a complex, dynamic system. This understanding illuminates why America's research enterprise has historically been so successful; where attention should be focused to increase the societal benefits of research investments; and how those who make decisions on the allocation of funds for scientific research can best carry out their task.

This report will be of special interest to policy makers who support or manage the research enterprise, to others in public and private institutions who fund research, to scholars of the research enterprise, and to scientists and engineers who seek to better understand the many pathways through which their research benefits society.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON ASSESSING THE VALUE OF RESEARCH IN ADVANCING NATIONAL GOALS
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Summary
• 1. Introduction
  • PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS STUDY
  • HOW A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE CAN HELP
  • THREE PILLARS OF THE AMERICAN RESEARCH ENTERPRISE
  • ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT
• 2. Evolution of the U.S. Research Enterprise
  • RESEARCH AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
  • COMPLEMENTARY ROLES OF INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND PHILANTHROPY IN FUNDING RESEARCH
  • HISTORICAL TRENDS IN FUNDING FOR RESEARCH
  • PERFORMERS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
  • IMPEDIMENTS TO THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEMS
  • HOW THE U.S. RESEARCH ENTERPRISE COMPARES WITH THOSE OF OTHER NATIONS
• 3. Understanding the Pathways from Research to Innovation
  • THE LINKS BETWEEN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
  • THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION
  • THE UNPREDICTABLE TIMELINE FROM RESEARCH TO SOCIETAL IMPACT
  • CONNECTING THE DOTS FROM RESEARCH TO INNOVATION
• 4. The Usefulness and Limitations of Metrics in Measuring the Returns on Publicly Funded Research
  • EXISTING MEASURES
  • INPUT INDICATOR: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)
  • OUTCOME INDICATOR: RETURN ON INVESTMENT
  • CHALLENGES OF DATA COLLECTION TO INFORM MEASUREMENT TOOLS
  • LIMITATIONS OF EXISTING METRICS
  • THE NEED TO MOVE BEYOND CURRENT INDICATORS
• 5. Measuring Research Impacts and Quality
  • USE OF METRICS BY OTHER NATIONS
  • IMPACT ASSESSMENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
  • USE OF METRICS TO EVALUATE THE ECONOMIC RETURNS OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
  • USE OF METRICS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENTS OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
  • USE OF METRICS TO EVALUATE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) FOSSIL FUEL R&D PROGRAMS
  • USE OF METRICS BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY: IBM'S PERSPECTIVE
  • USE OF METRICS BY PRIVATE NONPROFITS: BATTELLE'S PERSPECTIVE
  • USE OF METRICS TO EVALUATE THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES
  • USE OF METRICS TO MONITOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM UNIVERSITIES
  • EVALUATION OF RESEARCH FUNDING PROGRAMS
• 6. Understanding the Research Enterprise as a Complex System
  • UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM OF RESEARCH
  • SUPPORTING THE THREE PILLARS OF THE RESEARCH SYSTEM
  • CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS
• 7. Conclusion
  • A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
  • THREE PILLARS OF THE RESEARCH SYSTEM
  • HIGH-RISK RESEARCH
  • EVALUATION OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS
  • THE NEED FOR IMPROVED MEASURES
  • CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS
• References
• Appendixes
  • A An Evaluation of STAR METRICS
  • B U.S. Universities and Industrial Innovation: An Interactive Relationship Producing Economic Value from Research
  • C Annotated Bibliography of Selected Studies
  • D The Study Process
  • E Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff

This study was supported by Grant No. SMA-1215040 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

Suggested citation:

National Research Council. (2014). Furthering America's Research Enterprise. R.F. Celeste, A. Griswold, and M.L. Straf (Eds.). Committee on Assessing the Value of Research in Advancing National Goals, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.