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...the future.
To gauge the importance this industry, consider the attention it receives from the press, business associations, politicians, and the financial markets. Major discoveries are heralded in both the technical and popular media, and many studies monitor the pace of research and development. As the success of the Internet demonstrates, new technologies can quickly revolutionize business and leisure.
Companies often conduct their research and development (commonly referred to as "R&D") in separate laboratories and workshops. The people who work in these facilities are part of the scientific research and development services industry. Research and development occurring in establishments that mainly engage in other activities, such as manufacturing or educational services, are not counted as part of this industry.
Workers in the scientific research and development services industry include scientists and engineers, of course. But the industry also includes managers, accountants, people who interview test subjects, and many other workers in a range of occupations. All of these workers contribute to scientific breakthroughs and the development of new or improved products.
This article describes the scientific research and development services industry: its organization, occupations, benefits and drawbacks for workers, job outlook, training requirements, and advancement opportunities.
Constantly in flux: The nature of R&D
The scientific research and development services industry provided 549,950 jobs in 2004, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Workers are employed nationwide, but six States--California, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, and Michigan--together accounted for more than half of all research and development jobs. Much of the research and development in the automotive field is conducted in Michigan.
Research and development includes three types of activities: Basic research, applied research, and development. In addition, the industry is divided into two distinct categories. One comprises physical, engineering, and life sciences; the other includes social sciences and humanities.
Types of R&D work
Nearly everything we use, from antibiotics to zoom lenses, is the result of basic research, applied research, and development.
Basic research expands scientific knowledge but is not applied directly to real-world situations. This sort of research typically involves a high level of theory and is very risky; many projects fail to produce conclusive results. Basic research includes, for example, studying the properties of antibodies to learn more about how they work. Because of the risk and the broad applicability of the results, most basic research is funded by State governments, the Federal Government, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Scientists involved in basic research typically work for these employers.
Applied research is the bridge between science and business. It is conducted to solve some general scientific problem but, instead of simply increasing knowledge, applied research aims for the more concrete goal of helping to eventually create a product. This research will not create a final product, but it might generate viable options. For example, applied research might lead to the discovery of antibodies that can be used to create better vaccines.
Development, according to the National Science Board, accounts for more than half of all research and development funding. Development is the stage in which researchers refine the technologies or processes of applied research into usable products. So, in the previous example, development would involve researchers seeking a way to create and mass produce a particular vaccine. Most development is done by private industry and is generally geared toward manufacturing.
Physical, engineering, and life sciences
According to BLS data, workers in the physical, engineering, and life sciences accounted for about 89 percent of employment in the scientific research and development services industry in 2004. Important areas of research and development in these sciences include the aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, chemical and materials science, electronics, nanotechnology, and pharmaceutical fields.
Aerospace. Research and development in aerospace involves the study and creation of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and...
NOTE: All illustrations and photos
have been removed from this article.
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