Introduction to Assorted Topics in R&D
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Octaveoctave
 February 21 2025
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    Assorted Topics in Research and Development 

    Introduction to Assorted Topics in R&D

    Exordium

    Research and development is described, along with some of its current defects and possible ways to correct these issues.

    Abstract

    Research and development (R&D) is an important human activity. Almost all human technological and scientific progress is a direct result of R&D activities.

    Because R&D is so critical, it is useful to learn a bit about it. In addition, perhaps we should be trying to improve the efficiency and productivity of the R&D process. Therefore, it is valuable to study R&D for these purposes.

    Therefore, this series of essays examines in depth a few topics associated with R&D. First, a little  general background information is presented in Section A. Then in Section B, some problems with R&D are discussed. Finally, in Section C, a few potential ways to improve the efficiency and productivity of R&D are presented.

    Preface

    A: R&D General Information 

    In the first section of this document, some of the more important features of research and development are described. 

    A.1: Major Categories of R&D

    One of the most important pieces of information about a R&D project is how it can be described. There are numerous categories of R&D which can be used to label a given R&D project. For example, R&D can be short term or long term or both, or pursuing pure or applied goals. 

    The scientific method also divides science into theoretical and empirical work. Theoretical science involves the creation of models, and empirical science provides measurements and data to test these models.

    R&D efforts can be both qualitative, or quantitative, as well as either concrete or abstract. There are also many other ways to classify R&D, but these are probably the most important categories.

    A.2: Hard and Soft Money

    Another topic that is valuable to understand concerns the different ways that R&D is funded, or paid for. The two main types of R&D funding are hard money and soft money.

    Suppose that hard money is associated with an R&D position. In that case, no grants or contracts are required to obtain this "hard money". 

    Soft money, on the other hand, is derived from research and development grants and contracts. Typically the investigators have to apply for grants and contracts with a proposal to obtain these soft money funds. A lot of effort is consumed in this process. 

    A.3: The R&D Pipeline

    In years past, particularly more than a century ago, R&D participants were generalists. Now however, as the work becomes more sophisticated and time-consuming, the investigators are increasingly specialists. 

    So for example, there are data processing experts and computer experts and hardware experts and algorithm design experts and mathematical and theoretical experts involved. It really is not possible for one person to be at the bleeding edge of all these disciplines simultaneously.[1]

    If one wants to create hardware and software prototypes for testing in laboratories or in a field environment, there must be a lot of coordination between all these experts. This is readily observable in projects like the design and deployment of space telescopes, for example. Huge R&D teams with many components are involved with these complicated efforts. 

    To move an initial idea or concept forward through this process, a sort of "pipeline" of experts or diverse specialists has to be created. Each stage of the pipeline relies a bit on what is further upstream and came before it. Each component of the pipeline then contributes their efforts, and passes on results and products to the next stage of the pipeline. 

    B: R&D Problems

    The current landscape of research and development in the US seems to be starting to exhibit some deficiencies and issues. The R&D process might not be functioning as well as it did decades before.

    Some observations about shortcomings of many R&D organizations are described.

    C: Improving R&D

    It might be possible to return the research and development process to a more fertile and efficient state. One way to do this might be by recognizing and reducing some of the current difficulties that seem to afflict many R and D efforts. New organizational structures reassigning risks could be beneficial as well. 

    These and other ideas are discussed in the final section of this document.

    Notes

    [1] A few decades ago, many R&D managers demanded that single individuals should fulfill all these different roles. However, it was not that reasonable to expect this decades ago, and it is even less appropriate to demand this now.

    #r&d topics #introduction
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