Title: A case study of problems using statistics as a basis for decision international R&D making

Authors: J.J. Dooley, K.B. Miller, W.B. Ashton

Addresses: Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Washington, D.C., USA. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Washington, D.C., USA. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Washington, D.C., USA

Abstract: The challenges and opportunities of the global economy make international research and development information increasingly important to those in key decision-making positions in the world. This paper presents a case study of efforts to collect international information to assist decision makers in one research and development agency of the US government. The lack of a standard international method for collecting data created difficulties for researchers seeking to compare data from 10 industrialised nations and the European Community (European Union). The authors recommend that immediate efforts to improve the reliability and the usefulness of international R&D statistics be undertaken and that the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development play a leading role.

Keywords: R&D policy; R&D portfolios; R&D statistics; international data collection; purchasing power parity rates.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1997.001694

International Journal of Technology Management, 1997 Vol.13 No.7/8, pp.895-907

Published online: 17 Aug 2003 *

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