Table 4-21. "Radicalness" of major U.S. innovations, by 

 groups of R&D-intensive industries, 1953-62 and 1963-73 



Basi s of innovation and R&D intensity 1953-62 1963-73 



Percent distribution 



Total 100 100 



Group I 



Improvement of existing technology 24 25 



Major technological advance 20 30 



Radical breakthrough 23 14 



Group II 



Improvement of existing technology 13 9 



Major technological advance 4 6 



Radical breakthrough 4 7 



Group III 



Improvement of existing technology 6 5 



Major technological advance 1 1 



Radical breakthrough 5 2 



Number of innovations 



Total 96 112 



Group I 



Improvement of existing technology 23 28 



Major technological advance 19 34 



Radical breakthrough 22 16 



Group II 



Improvement of existing technology 12 10 



Major technological advance 4 7 



Radical breakthrough 4 8 



Group III 



Improvement of existing technology 6 6 



Major technological advance 1 1 



Radical breakthrough 5 2 



NOTE Detail may not add to totals because of rounding 



SOURCE: Gellman Research Associates. Inc., Indicators of international Trends in Technological Innovation. 1975 (A 

 study commissioned specifically for this report). 



Table 4-22. Sources of technology underlying 

 major U.S. innovations, 1933-73 



Source Frequency' 



Applied research 205 



Basic research 109 



Technology transfer^ 77 



Licensing 12 



Purchase of "know-how" 8 



Acquisition/merger 



' fylulttple responses were accepted 

 ^ From within the innovating company 



SOURCE; Gellman Research Associates, Inc.. Indicators of International 

 Trends in Technological Innovation. 1975. (A study commissioned specifically 

 for this report) 



227 



