Table 2-7. Important Issues Pertaining to the Vitality of the Research System 



University 



Hiring and research support problems are experienced by younger faculty; departments cannot hire 



because of tenure; older faculty do not leave. 



The continued supply of manpower to do research must be insured. 



More support is needed for graduate studies. 



Increased teaching loads take time away from research. 



Industry 



Concern about quality of new people — best are not entering science and engineering 

 or, if they do, are kept for university. 



Too few/too many scientific and technical personnel— no match with need— lack of national 

 policy on scientific and technical personnel. 



Government Laboratories & FFRDC's 



Desire for improved personnel management (e.g., personnel changes, salary scales, staff 

 levels, etc.). 



Need to maintain research staff vitality with more positions for young scientists and continuing 

 education for older ones. 



Independent Research Institutes 



Manpower needs— particularly in IRI's— as problems associated with multi-disciplinary efforts. 



Table 2-8. Important Issues Pertaining to Freedom in the Research System 



University 



There is pressure for applied research in preference to basic or pure research; projects are overly 



"targeted" or their subjects too minutely defined. 



There are excessive demands for accountability in the use of funds provided by government. 



Industry 



Government regulations and controls (unreasonable, not thought out, no cost/benefit/risk analysis). 

 Near-term relevance is only research objective (due to government regulations or decentralization 

 of research to profit centers). 



Deteriorating patent protection or patent policy is a disincentive to industrial research and 

 innovation. 



Competing R&D functions (e.g.. applied research or development in response to government regulations) 

 decrease fundamental research in industry. 



Government Laboratories & FFRDC's 



Increased emphasis on short-term research and neglect of basic research. 

 Overmanagement as evidenced by too many restrictions especially on longer-term research. 



Independent Research Institutes 



Federal pressure toward over-direction of research with emphasis on short-term or applied 

 research. 



THE INQUIRY TO THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY 29 



