1259 



Role of Basic Research. — Another contributing element in building 

 a scientific infrastructure in the LDCs is emphasis on basic research, 

 an essential basis of technological development. The LDCs are de- 

 ficient in this area of scientific activity. Professor Moravcsik disagrees 

 with those who assume that basic research is an ''unjustifiable luxury" 

 for the LDCs. "A somewhat more searching investigation," he w rites, 

 '"will . . . support the contention that the underdeveloped countries 

 must begin without delay to develop their scientific resources in the 

 direction of fundamental research." ^^° The reason for this conclusion 

 lies in Moravcsik's belief that '*the fundamental science of today is the 

 applied science of tomorrow and because the educational process in 

 science is a long process." °^" 



Assignment of importance to indigenous basic research in the LDCs 

 rests on the conviction that it : 



— Establishes the essential base upon vrhich is built the applied 

 science and practical technology ; 



— Contributes to strengthening the scientific tradition and. fur- 

 thering the appreciation of science in national development; 



— Provides the training ground for science administrators, 

 those with the competence to be the decisionmakers for national 

 science and development policy ; 



— Trains young professionals in the skills necessary for applied 

 science and technological imiovation ; 



- — Increases the motivation of the country toward acceptance of 

 technological innovation (which traditional cultures tend to 

 resist) ; and 



— Builds a network of communication for the diffusion of new 

 scientific ideas ; and as "one of the most sublime proving grounds 

 for the human mind", success in basic research serves as a "source 

 of great encouragement and high morale in the newly developing 

 countries." ^^® 

 Of course, as with most hypotheses concerning the development 

 process, the value of a basic research program can be overstressed. The 

 precise point in the development cycle at which the social yield of basic 

 research activity is maximum would be difficult to determine. Also 

 difficult is the determination of how much of an LDCs meagre re- 

 sources to allocate to basic research. Clearly, the activity, carefully se- 

 lected and stably supported, yields many values. And fortunate for 

 this role of basic research in the infrastructure of the developing coun- 

 tries is that the costs, per researcher, of such research tends to be quite 

 modest in most branches of science, as compared with costs of applied 

 research and development. 



«« Moravcsik, "Technical Assistance and Fundamental Research In Underdeveloped Coun- 

 tries," p. 198. 



<i5T Ibid. On another occasion Professor Moravcsik explained the urgency of developing 

 basic research In the LDCs : "It is now my further assertion that since the establish- 

 ment of basic scientific research is by nature a slow process which cannot be telescoped 

 into short time period, even with unlimited amount of enthusiasm and money, therefore 

 oue must start now in order to see results thirty years from now." ("Basic Sclentitic 

 Research In Developing Nations," p. 3.) • 



«58 Moravcsik, "Technical Assistance and Fundamental Research In Underdeveloped 

 Countries," pp. 201-202. However, it should also be remembered that while basic research 

 is inherently lower in cost than applied, the rewards tend to be long deferred. As 

 Moravcsik observed, "one must start now" on establishing infrastructure for basic scien- 

 tific research "in order to see results thirty years from now." ("Basic Scientific Research 

 in Developing Nations," p. 3.) 



