Definitions of R & D : report with evidence.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Science and Technology Committee.
Date:
1990
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Definitions of R & D : report with evidence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    41/148 (page 39)
    Significantly improvements to existing products, processes or systems must be ‘substantial’ in order for the work to be classified as R&D (discussed further below). DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN R&D AND CLOSELY RELATED ACTIVITIES SSAP13 states that the ‘R&D activity is distinguished from non-research based activity by the presence or absence of an appreciable element of innovation’, in contrast to Frascati which requires ‘an appreciable element of novelty’. SSAP13 also adds a qualifying statement that ‘if the activity departs from routine and breaks new ground it should be included [as R&D], if it follows an established pattern it should normally be excluded’. SSAP13 then goes on to provide examples of the types of activity that would normally be included in or excluded from R&D (SSAP13 paras 6-7). Although most of these examples have their origin in the Frascati manual it is significant that the list of examples in SSAP13 are much more concise and to the point (see below). Activities Normally Included In R&D SSAP13: Examples of activities that would normally be included in research and development are: (a) experimental, theoretical or other work aimed at the discovery of new knowledge, or the advancement of existing knowledge; (b) searching for applications of that knowledge; (c) formulation and design of possible applications for such work; (d) testing in search for, or evaluation of, product, service or process alternatives; (e) design, construction and testing of pre-production prototypes and models and development batches; (f) design of products, services, processes or systems involving new technology or substantially improving those already produced or installed; (g) construction and operation of pilot plants. cf. Frascati: (a) creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications (para 43)...basic research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge; (b) the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications (para 43); (c) if calculations, designs, workshop drawing and operating instructions are made for the setting-up and operation of pilot plants, they should be included in R&D (para 58); (d) feasibility studies ... on research projects are part of R&D (para 51); (e) the design, construction and testing of prototypes ... when any necessary modification to the prototype(s) have been made and testing has been satisfactorily completed, the boundary between R&D has been reached. The construction of several copies of a prototype to meet a temporary commercial, military or medical need after successful testing of the original, even if carried out by R&D staff, is not part of R&D (para 72); (f) experimental development is systematic work ... that is directed towards producing new materials, products or devices, to installing new processes, systems and services, or to improving substantially those already produced or installed; (g) the construction and operation of a pilot plant ... as long as the principal purposes are to obtain experience and to compile engineering and other data ... Activities Normally Excluded From R&D SSAP13: Examples of activities that would normally be excluded from research and development include: (a) testing and analysis either of equipment or product for purposes of quality or quantity control;