6 



Xational Resources Planning Board 



in ordpr to discover facts or priiiciiilcs," nnd tlicre are 

 other good definitions, sucli as tliis: "Jiesearcii is tiie 

 organized and systematic search for new knowledge." 

 Unless these broad definitions are limited, however, 

 research may include many and, at times, curious 

 activities. "Research" may determine the type of 

 radio program preferred by the largest number of 

 customers in a particular income class, or the market 

 available for automatic pencils. "Kcsearch" may 

 ascertain the cost of manufacture of dry batteries, or 

 the preferred practice in operating purchasing dei)art- 

 ments. "Research" may disclose the designs used by 

 various nationalities for foot coverings, and lead to new 

 styles in shoes. All these activities can be called 

 "research," and all maj' be conducted by industry— yet 

 I'.one is what is here termed "industrial research.'' 



Industrial research as the activity of over 2,200 

 industrial laboratories consists of organized and sys- 

 tematic search for new scientific facts and principles 

 which may be applicable to the creation of new wealth, 

 and presupposes the emplovmcnt of men educated in 

 the various scientific disciplines. The line of de- 

 marcation between such research and the technical 

 utilization of research findings is seldom clearly defined. 

 Usually the initial stages of commercialization are 

 carried on under laboratory auspices. There is wide 

 difference of oi)inion as to the point at wliich "research" 

 stops and commercial development ;uid o[)("ration 

 b(gin. 



Attempts have been made to classify the stages 

 through wliich research travels on its way toward 

 adoption of results by industry. At the foundation of 

 all industrial research is a type referred to, in this 



report, as "fundamental" and because such research 

 offers best promise of new industries and of nuijor 

 contributions to old industries, special consideration 

 is given it in this report. Dr. C. M. A. Stinc in his 

 section describes "fundamental research" as "quest for 

 facts about the properties and behaviour of matter, 

 without regard to a specific application of the facts 

 discovered." One stage removed is "pioneering re- 

 search," and the distinction made is principally one of 

 objective. If a definite objective is stated, particularly 

 if it ai)plies to specific manufactured products, "the 

 work becomes pioneering applied research." "The 

 investigation of monomolecular films by a producer of 

 electrical equipnu^nt might be fundamental research, 

 whereas the investigation of monomolecular films by 

 an oil refiner engaged in the production of lubricants 

 might largely assume the complexion of applied re- 

 search. The complexion of the research depends upon 

 the character of the problem and the nature of the 

 agency carrying on the investigation." 



Once an opportunity for commercial development 

 becomes apparent, there is usually a period in which 

 "test-tube" or "bench" research is conducted. Ap- 

 paratus used is extremely limited and usually relatively 

 crude. This has been true, for example, in the develop- 

 ment of most of the plastics that have attained such 

 wide acceptance. It avoids heavy expenditures in 

 equipment or personnel in a project which at this stage 

 is in effect a speculation. 



Following the bench stage there comes the pilot 

 plant. For example, in the manufacture of spun glass 

 a small unit was developed and operated for a con- 

 siderable period. It was not expected that the product 



FiGCUE 1.- KfSfUich Laboratories. General Klectric Cuiupany, Schunectady, New York 



