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Research and Development Surveys
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The Research and Development Surveys (RADS) include several surveys on research and development performed or funded by businesses within the United States. The data available date back to 1972 even though the history of this data dates to 1953. The surveys serve as the primary source of information on R&D performed by industry within the United States. This data can be used to assess trends in R&D expenditures. Government agencies, corporations, and research organizations use the data to investigate productivity determinants, formulate tax policy, and compare individual company performance with industry averages. Individual researchers in industry and academia use the data to investigate a variety of topics and while preparing professional papers, dissertations, and books. Completion of four items on the questionnaire are mandated by law. These data have the same key Federal Tax identifiers and therefore can be consolidated under this one data entry.
The Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) Survey and its predecessors are the primary sources of information on research and development (R&D) performed or funded by businesses within the United States since 1953. The BERD Survey was developed and is cosponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the National Science Foundation and by the Census Bureau, which collects and tabulates data for the survey in accordance with an agreement between the two agencies. Results are used to assess trends in the performance and funding of business R&D. The annual survey examines a nationally representative sample of companies in manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries.
Its predecessors were the Survey of Industrial Research and Development (SIRD) (1953–2007), the Business R&D and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) (2008–16), and the Business Research and Development Survey (BRDS) (2017–18). Note that SIRD and BRDIS collected statistics for businesses with five or more employees. BRDS produced (and the BERD Survey produces) statistics for businesses with 10 or more employees.
Beginning in survey year 2018, companies that performed or funded less than $50,000 of R&D were excluded from tabulation. In prior years, companies that performed or funded any amount of R&D were tabulated. This change has affected the comparability of these estimates to those published in prior years, although it is estimated that companies that performed or funded less than $50,000 of R&D accounted for a very small percentage of total domestic R&D. SIRD, BRDIS, and BRDS all collected data on the full range of R&D activities, but only BRDIS collected data on business innovation activities. Data on business innovation activities have been collected by the Annual Business Survey (ABS) since 2017. Statistics on the R&D activities of businesses with one to nine employees are also collected by the ABS.
Detailed Methodology
The annual survey examines a nationally representative sample of companies in manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries.
The following data will be available under RADS:
Survey of Industrial Research and Development (SIRD) previously available for years 1972 – 2007.
Business Research & Development and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) previously available for years 2008 – 2018. BRDIS also collected data on business innovation activities.
Business Research & Development Survey (BRDS) have similar content to BRDIS but no longer include the innovation module (which was moved to the Annual Business Survey as discussed below).
Business Enterprise Research and Development Survey (BERD) for years 2018 – present.
Please note that SIRD and BRDIS collected data for businesses with 5 or more employees. The BRDS and BERD collected data with 10 or more employees.
The Annual Business Survey (ABS) since 2017 collects data on the R&D activities of businesses with 1-9 employees and innovation activities without regard for firm size. The ABS is not part of RADS and requests for access must be made separately from requests for access to RADS.
Note that SIRD and BRDIS collected statistics for businesses with 5 or more employees. BRDS (and BERD) collected statistics for businesses with 10 or more employees. Beginning in survey year 2018, companies that performed or funded less than $50,000 of R&D were excluded from tabulation. In prior years, companies that performed or funded any amount of R&D were tabulated. This change has affected the comparability of these estimates to those published in prior years. SIRD, BRDIS, and BRDS all collected data on the full range of R&D activities, but only BRDIS collected data on business innovation activities. Data on business innovation activities have been collected by the Annual Business Survey (ABS) since 2017. Statistics on the R&D activities of businesses with 1–9 employees are also collected by the ABS.
Business Register ID