programs deal with ways to protect the soil against 

 erosion as well as research on plant nutrition and 

 ways of raising soil fertility. 64 



The procedure for project selection at lower lev- 

 els of the hierarchy is similar, although correspon- 

 dingly shorter and simpler with fewer organizations 

 involved. In Academy and university facilities, 

 "initiative" fundamental research not associated with 

 problems of superior bodies or contractual obliga- 

 tions materially reflects the professional interests 

 of the individual or research collectives. In indus- 

 try, ministries define problems of branch importance 

 in the same way that all-union R&D problems are de- 

 fined. The ministry scientific-technical council is 

 the chief consultative body. Large production asso- 

 ciations and other establishments may engage in a 

 similar procedure. In general, while personnel in 

 industrial institutes, design bureaus, and produc- 

 tion establishments may have some latitude to pursue 

 their professional interests, the heavily applied na- 

 ture of the work at these facilities severely limits 

 the scope of R&D. 



Indeed, the selection process itself is influenced 

 by the character of the R&D in question. While the 

 consumer of the results frequently influences project 

 selection in industrial R&D, the resource base — the 

 qualifications, creative potential, and experience — 

 of the fundamental research organization also tends 

 to limit the scope of its work. In planning funda- 

 mental research, Larichev notes that "the resources 

 of the executors predetermine to a considerable de- 

 gree the goals that are achieved." On the other hand, 

 for predominantly development-oriented projects "the 

 composition of the performers has comparatively small 

 influence on the goals that are achieved; the same 

 R&D can be assigned to different groups of perform- 

 ers." Applied R&D occupies an intermediate position 

 in this regard. "5 Academician Kapitsa also observes 

 that with fundamental research planning "the choice 

 of talented individuals should have priority, even 

 over the choice of subjects." As he points out, "A 

 lame man cannot be taught to run however much money 

 is spent on him. "66 



118 



