Industrial Research 



95 



or other basic supplies for a second industry engaged in 

 processing and distribution may provide funds for re- 

 search to the trade association of the second industry. 

 The solution of the research problem thus financed 

 would be expected to result in increased use of the ma- 

 terial and hence in increased production by the donors. 

 The manufacturers of tin cans, for instance, lend sub- 

 stantial financial support to the Canners Laboratory 

 of the National Canners Association. 



In general, research appropriations should be allocated 

 from the general funds of the association and results 

 shoidd be made available to all members. Care must 

 be taken to see that funds so allocated are sufficient 

 to finance the laboratorj' or other research agency 

 adequately for the work it is to undertake. 



Seventeen trade associations out of thirty-six, an- 

 swering a question in the Chamber of Commerce survey 

 as to what was their greatest handicap in pursuing 

 successful research, stated that it was lack of sufficient 

 funds. A deficient budget may cause delay or even 

 abandonment of a project when ultimate success seems 

 nearly assm-ed and a small additional expense promises 

 the solution. Contributors are likely to become dis- 

 gruntled and withdraw their association support when 

 such a condition exists, instead of having the broader 

 vision to carry on. 



Research — A Long-Range Activity 



In considering the funds necessary for research, 

 thought must be given to the time element. Very 

 few research investigations can be completed in one 

 year. Reasonable assurance that funds will be made 

 available until a piece of research can be completed is 

 very desirable. The scientist can then plan the thor- 

 ough and complete program that is so often necessary 

 for the successful solution of a problem. If he must 

 work under the handicap of feeling pressed for time, 

 knowing that in so many months his work must termi- 

 nate wdiether successful or not, he will be apt to take 

 short cuts and may miss the necessary step that will 

 insure a satisfactory product or process. If time is all 

 important, sufficient financial provision should be made 

 immediately to sustain as large a staff of scientists and 

 technical aides as can effectively work on the project. 

 If a mass of collective experience is necessary to "prove" 

 the process, a well-organized corps of workers is often 

 successful in saving much time. In many types of 

 investigation, however, continued individual endeavor 

 is the only practical method of approach. Such types 

 of research may require many years to complete, and 

 if undertaken by trade associations, the time require- 

 ment must be thoroughly understood and appreciated 

 by the members. 



Trade associations that are carrying on research 

 projects satisfactorily attribute their success largely to 

 adequate financial support both in amount and duration. 



Coordination of Research 



In most trade associations individual members will 

 be found who ai'c carrying on private research. Coop- 

 eration with them is essential to prevent needless dupli- 

 cation. This does not necessarily mean that the indi- 

 vidual member must divulge the valuable results of 

 successful private research. More often it means that 

 private research has developed negative results along 

 some apparently possible line of approach to a problem, 

 and an unnecessary expenditure of eft'ort and funds by 

 the trade association research staff can be avoided if 

 this fact is made known. 



In many cases, too, private industry will be willing 

 to share its research results with the trade association 

 in order to hasten progress and promote the general 

 welfare. The extent to which this is feasible naturally 

 depends on the particular competitive commercial 

 advantage involved. In general, it is believed that 

 there is much greater exchange of this type of informa- 

 tion than formerly was customary. Private enterprise 

 is more inclined at present than in the past to encoiu-age 

 its scientists to publish the results of their technical 

 studies. 



The mutual problems of industrial scientists are more 

 freely discussed by them before the meetings of their 

 respective scientific societies than formerly. Publica- 



FiGUEB 16. — Laboratory for Invf.stigatioii of Length C ii;uim- 

 Concrete, Portland Cement Association, Cliicago, Illinois 



