Best R&D Management Practices

This project documented the practices that enable agencies to evaluate the relevance, quality, and performance of their R&D investments. This project aimed to identify the "best practices" used among the agencies with the ultimate goal of helping them improve their R&D program management and effectiveness.

Report on Report of Facilities

This project reviewed the research literature on federal R&D facilities optimization with the aim of identifying key efficiency and effectiveness issues for federal R&D facilities, including management, construction, access, and policy issues. In addition, S&TPI identified gaps and areas not covered by the current literature.

Publication:

• MR-1728-OSTP, A Review of Reports on Selected Large Federal Science Facilities: Management and Life-Cycle Issues, 2003.

The History of the Federal Government’s R&D Investment and the American Aerospace Industry

S&T PI performed an analysis of Federal R&D investments in aerospace R&D and documented in a book-length manuscript how these investments have affected the welfare of the nation.

RaDiUS License

Provides access to the RaDiUS database.

Product:

• The RaDiUS database.

Housing Technology Barriers, Policy Options, & PATH Metric AnalysisThis project

This project provided a thorough and focused analysis of the broad policies, barriers, and institutions that affect housing technology in the US in general. Then assess the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing’s (PATH) progress in developing metrics that respond to that analysis. The resulting series of studies should have application to housing technology circles beyond PATH.

Technology Transfer

This project analyzed government, national laboratory, industry, and university perspectives on U.S. technology transfer of federally funded R&D. This project included convening an expert panel to discuss various aspects of technology transfer effectiveness. Following the panel meeting, the perspectives and technology transfer issues raised were analyzed for those federal actions that may lead to enhanced transfer of technology and benefit to the U.S.

Publication:

• CF-187-OSTP, Technology Transfer of Federally Funded R&D: Perspectives from a Forum, 2003.

Support for the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

This project provided technical support and analysis to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). RAND worked with each of the four PCAST subcommittees in their major interest areas. The subcommittees supported were Countering Terrorism, Energy, Federal R&D Portfolio, and Info Tech.

Publications:

• MR-1639.0-OSTP, Federal Investment in R&D, 2002.
• IP-240-OSTP, Research Topics for Informing Broadband Internet Policy, 2003.

Technical Assistance and Support to Roadmapping Technologies in Housing

Best Practices in International S&T Cooperation

S&T and International Capacity Building

Examind strategic options for more effective international capacity building in science and technology in developing countries, particularly in areas where international collaboration is an important part of reaching U.S. national goals.

Publication:

• DB-345-OSTP, Linking Effectively: International Cooperation in Science and Technology, 2002.

Support to the NSF Innovation Workshop

Provided analytic assistance in support of the NSF Partnerships for Innovation Workshop and conduct subsequent analysis of the proceedings.

Publication:

• MR-1534-NSF, Building a New Foundation for Innovation: Results of a Workshop for the National Science Foundation, 2002.

Product:

• Partnerships: Building a New Foundation for Innovation , workshop, June 2001.

Analysis of International Science and Technology Issues

This project analyzed issues of interest to OSTP/NSIA relating to international science and technology and addressed the following issue area:

• Scientific capacity building in developing countries, with specific focus on agricultural biotechnology and ways in which the lack of information infrastructure may hinder development
• The status of science-for debt-programs
• Studies of the U.S. government's S&T relationship with key partners, possibly focusing on Russia, and within that, the Russian biotechnology sector.

Publication:

• MR-1504-OSTP, U.S. Government Funding for Science and Technology Cooperation with Russia, 2002.

Bringing the Benefits of Information Technology to America's Homes

This project identified opportunities, promoted communication and coordination, and sought to accelerate the deployment of information technology into America's homes.

Publication:

• Information Technology in the Home: Barriers, Opportunities, and Research Directions, IP-203, 2000.

Assessing the Costs of a Dedicated Science Submarine Program

This study assessed the costs and logistics to operate a retired SSN 637 class nuclear submarine for unclassified scientific research throughout the world's oceans.

Publication:

• MR-1369.0-NSF, Assessing the Benefits and Costs of a Science Submarine, 2001.

This project conducted a literature review and identified data sources for priority setting in federal research and development; wrote an analytical report on current and alternative methodologies for priority setting.

International Cooperation in Science and Technology: An Update

Publication:

• MR-1248-OSTP, International Cooperation in Research and Development: An Update to an Inventory of U.S. Government Spending, 2000.

Interagency Budgeting for the War on Drugs

Publication:

• MR-1262-ONDCP/NSF, Improving Anti-Drug Budgeting, 2000.

Summit on Innovation

This project supported the NSTC Committee on Technology Innovation Workshop and subsequent policy analysis and implementation.

Publication:

• MR-1338.0/1-OSTP, New Foundations for Growth: The U.S. Innovation System Today and Tomorrow, 2000.

State Profile of Federal R&D Activities

This project developed a state profile of federal R&D activities using RaDiUS and other information sources.

Publication:

• MR-1194-OSTP, Discovery and Innovation: Federal Research and Development Activities in the Fifty States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2000.

Industries of the Future

This project supported OSTP's efforts to integrate perspectives from industry into the formulation of environmental policies that rely on technological innovation to achieve their goals.

Publications:

• MR-1068/OSTP, Technology Forces at Work: Profiles of Environmental Research, 1999.
• MR-1068/1-OSTP, Technology Forces at Work: Executive Summary, 1999.

Global Technology Assessments: Have U.S. Needs Changed

This project assesed national need and demand for global, regional, and comparative technology assessments.

Publication:

• MR-1079-NSF, Global Science and Technology Information: A New Spin on Access, 1999.

Analytical Support to Transportation Analysis

This project conducted analysis to support formulation of transportation policy.

Publication:

• MR-1011-DOC, The Machine That Could: PNGV, A Government-Industry Partnership, 1999.

Technology Transition Paths Toward Low Carbon Energy Portfolios

This project assisted OSTP and PCAST in developing and assessing energy R&D portfolios that meet national goals.

Analytical Support for Fourth National Critical Technologies Panel

This project provided analytic support for the fourth NCT panel by examining what makes technologies critical and what role government should play in developing and sustaining these technologies.

Publication:

• MR-1008-OSTP, New Forces at Work: Industry Views Critical Technologies, 1998.

Assessment of International Cooperation in Earth Observation Satellite Monitoring

This project cataloged and assessed U.S. involvement in international agreements related to each observation satellite monitoring.

Publication:

• MR-972-OSTP, International Agreements on Cooperation in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation, 1998.

Assessing the Costs and Benefits of U.S. Government-Sponsored Cooperation in International Science and Technology

This project created a framework for assessing costs and benefits of federally sponsored cooperative international R&D.

Publication:

• MR-900-OSTP, International Cooperation in Research and Development: An Inventory of U.S. Government Spending and a Framework for Measuring Benefits, 1998.

Critical Technologies Panel #3

This project constructed third biennial National Critical Technologies Report.

Publication:

• National Critical Technologies Report, March 1995 (Published by the U.S. Government Printing Office)

Metrics of Fundamental Science

This project developed practical statements and options concerning development of performance goals and milestones for the federal investment in science and technology.

Publications:

• MR-708.0, Economic Approaches to Measuring the Performance and Benefits of Fundamental Science (Abstract)
• MR-707.0, Assessment of Fundamental Science Programs in the Context of GPRA (Abstract)
• MR-706.0, Techniques and Methods for Assessing the International Standing of U.S. Science (Abstract)

Critical Technologies Panel Support

This project constructed second biennial Critical Technologies Panel report.

Publication:

• National Critical Technologies Panel Second Biennial Report, January 1993 (published by the U.S. Government Printing Office)

Machine Tool Industry Study

This project conducted a case study of U.S. machine tool industry: reasons for decline, prospects for recovery.

Publication:

• MR-479/1-OSTP, The Decline of the U.S. Machine Tool Industry and Prospects for its Sustainable Recovery (Abstract)