Metadata: Identification and Summary
Title
Research and Development Surveys
Alternative title
RADS
Description
The Research and Development Surveys (RADS) include several surveys on research and development performed or funded by businesses within the United States. The data available date back to 1972 even though the history of this data dates to 1953. The surveys serve as the primary source of information on R&D performed by industry within the United States. This data can be used to assess trends in R&D expenditures. Government agencies, corporations, and research organizations use the data to investigate productivity determinants, formulate tax policy, and compare individual company performance with industry averages. Individual researchers in industry and academia use the data to investigate a variety of topics and while preparing professional papers, dissertations, and books. Completion of four items on the questionnaire are mandated by law. These data have the same key Federal Tax identifiers and therefore can be consolidated under this one data entry.
Survey of Industrial Research and Development: The SIRD was replaced by the Business Research & Development and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) in 2008. The Survey of Industry Research and Development is the primary source of information on R&D performed by industry within the United States. The BRDIS collects a broad range of R&D data from both manufacturing and service companies along with select innovation data. The BRDIS replaces the SIRD. Measures include financial measures of R&D activity, measures related to R&D management and strategy, measures of company R&D activity funded by organizations not owned by the company, measures related to R&D employment, and measures related to intellectual property, technology transfer, and innovation.
Business Research and Development Survey: The Business Research and Development Survey (BRDS) is conducted jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The BRDIS provides detailed statistics on global and domestic R&D expenses of U.S. based companies as well as statistics on the R&D workforce, intellectual property and technology transfer activities. The survey is divided into seven sections. Data for each year include financial measures of R&D activity, measures related to R&D employment, measures related to R&D management and strategy, and measures related to intellectual property and technology transfer activities. Launched in 2009, the Business R&D and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) was developed jointly by the National Science Foundation/Science Resources Statistics (NSF/SRS) and the U.S. Census Bureau to replace the Survey of Industrial Research and Development. Business Research Development and Innovation Survey: Although focusing mainly on R&D activities, the pilot BRDIS included a question on innovation—a first attempt at measuring the U.S. incidence of product and process innovation. Adapted from the European Union's Community Innovation Survey (CIS), this question was addressed to all companies operating in the United States, whether or not they performed or funded R&D.
Source(s)
Census Bureau
General Survey Information
Funder/Sponsor(s)
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics