ERIC ED053942: Scientific Activities of Nonprofit Institutions 1966.

DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 053 942

SE 012 137

AUTHOR

TITLE

INSTITUTION
REPORT NO
PUB DATE
NOTE

AVAILABLE FROM

Biggar, Ronald S., Jr.; And Others

Scientific Activities of Nonprofit Institutions 1966
National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C.

NSF-69- 16
Mar 6 9

88p.; Surveys of Science Resource Series
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402

EDRS PRICE
DESCRIPTORS

EDRS Price MF-S0.65 HC-S3.29

♦Expenditures, Federal Aid, Manpower Utilization,
♦National Surveys, ♦Research and Development
Centers, *Science Programs, ♦Voluntary Agencies

ABSTRACT

This report summarizes the results of th
Science Foundation's survey of scientific activities of i
nonprofit organizations in 1966. Information is included
expenditures for research, development, and scientific an
information activities and on the employment of scientifi
associated with these activities. Major findings include
following; (1) In January 1967, the full- time-equivalent
of R S D scientists and engineers employed by independent
institutions totaled 24,300, compared with 5,300 in Janua
Federal expenditures for research and development contrac
nonprofit institutions reached $540 million in 1966, nine
$60 million reported for 1953; and (3) In 1966, nonprofit
institutions with $1 million or more in R S D performance
for 83% of total nonprofit R & D expenditures, received 8
Federal expenditures for R S D projects contracted to non
institutions, and employed 80% of the FTE number of R S D
and engineers. Appendices include statistical tables, tec
notes, and the questionnaires including the cover letter
instructions. (Author/PR)

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

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Surveys of So once Resources Senes
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NSF 69-16

NOTES AND DEFINITIONS

• I nth {H itfli nf uou profit instif nfitnis. as defined for this surwv, mv Irgal
entities organized or chartered to serve tin* public interest that are exempt
from Federal income taxes. Surveyed nrgauizat i<*ns inrlude indeprinlent
research institutes. Federally Funded Research ami I U-velnpmeiit fVntcr>
(FFEIM”s) administered by nonprofit institutions, science exhibitors, pro-
fessional or technical societies. academies of science, and private philan-
thropic foundations. Educational institutions and Federal. State, and local
governments are excluded from this report.

• Total c.r paidif arts for nmarrh and dm htpiut nt include all direct and
indirect operating costs incurred in support of research and development,
hen* classified in three major types:

(a) Current operating expenditures for research and development
conducted intramurallv by institutions’ own stall’s.

(l>) Capital expenditures for intramural research and development
such as expenditures for buildings, facilities, and capital equip-
ment.

(e) Extramural expenditures for research and development con-
ducted by other institutions.

• K x /k )ul if nrrs for sricitfifir (md technical in format ion act not n s are ex-
penditures for the planning, support, control, performance, and improve-
ment of functions or tasks that deal with the processing, handling*, and
communication of scientific and technical information.

• Expend'd urcr for ('duration in tin- scicuas include expenditures for the
conduct and support of educational programs related to the sciences anil
engineering.

0 For detailed definitions and specific applications, see instructions and
composite questionnaires in appendix C.

Throughout this report, numbers and per-
cents may not add to totals because of
rounding. In all text tabulations, figures
are rounded to the nearest 10.

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
of

NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS
1966

1966 Expenditures and January 1967 Manpower

Surveys of Science Resources Series
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NSF 69-16

3

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C., 20402 — Price $1

4

FOREWORD

T his report summarizes the results of the National Science Founda-
tion’s survey of scientific activities of independent nonprofit organiza-
tions in 1966. The study includes data on the financial and manpower re-
sources used by such organizations to carry out research and educational
programs in the sciences and engineering. It is comparable in scope to the
NSF-conducted survey of nonprofit organizations covering the year 1964.

Independent nonprofit organizations, which constitute a rather hetero-
geneous group with widely differing programs in the sciences and en-
gineering, perform a variety of functions that contribute to the scientific
and technological capabilities of the Nation. The research institutes and
the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers administered by
nonprofit institutions are principally engaged in R&D performance financed
largely through contracts with government agencies and industrial firms.
Philanthropic foundations support scientific research and educational ac-
tivities in universities and colleges and other nonprofit organizations. An-
other major category of science-oriented nonprofit organizations includes
professional societies and academies of science, which are primarily en-
gaged in information activities to encourage scientific advancement within
their membership and throughout the scientific community.

This report on the 1966 survey was prepared in the National Science
Foundation’s Office of Economic and Manpower Studies, H. E. Riley, Head.
The National Science Foundation gratefully acknowledges the cooperation
of officials of independent nonprofit organizations who supplied the survey
data.

Charles E. Falk
Planning Director
National Science Foundation

March 1969

Acknowledgments

This report describes the results of a survey carried
out in the Office of Economic and Manpower Studies.
William L. Stewart was responsible for planning and
directing the survey in its initial stages. R onal d S.
Biffgar, Jr., assisted by Lester Friedman and Penny D.
Fostcr i p repared this rep gxt under the supervision of
Joseph H. Schuster, Study Director, Universities and
Nonprofit Institutions Studies Group. Guidance and
review in the preparation of the report were provided
by Kenneth Sanow, Head, Statistical Surveys and Re-
ports Section.

6

CONTENTS

Pao*

Summary vii

1. Introduction . . 1

Scope of Survey . - 2

Relationship to Earlier Surveys 2

Limitations of Data - - - - 3

Plan of the Report 4

2. General Characteristics of the Scientific Activities of

Independent Nonprofit Institutions ...... . 6

Trends in R&D Employment and Expenditures ... 5

Employment of Scientists and Engineers . . ... 6

Employment of Technicians 7

Total R&D Expenditures 7

Intramural R&D Performance 8

Capital R&D Expenditures 10

Extramural R&D Financing 11

Medical and Health-Related Research and Development . 11

3. Research Institutes - 12

Manpower Characteristics 12

Total R&D Expenditures 13

Intramural R&D Performance - - 14

Capital R&D Expenditures 16

Extramural R&D Financing 16

4. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers

(Administered by Nonprofit Institutions) 17

Manpower Characteristics 17

R&D Expenditures 18

6. Societies and Academies of Science 20

Manpower Characteristics 20

Total Expenditures for Scientific Activities 21

R&D Expenditures 21

Scientific and Technical Information 22

6. Private Philanthropic Foundations 24

Manpower Characteristics 24

Total Research Expenditures 24

Research Expenditures of Foundations With the

Largest Research Programs 26

Current Research Expenditures, by Field of Science 26

Expenditures for Education in the Sciences 27

Total Nonscience Expenditures 27

Paot

7. Science Exhibitors and Other Nonprofit Institutions 28

Science Exhibitors 28

Manpower Characteristics 28

Total R&D Expenditures . 29

Intramural R&D Performance 30

Other Nonprofit Institutions 30

Manpower Characteristics 30

Total R&D Expenditures 31

Intramural R&D Performance 31

Appendixes :

A. Statistical Tables 36

B. Technical Notes . - 62

C. Covering Letter, Questionnaires, and Instructions 64

Text Tables

Table pao «

1. Concentration of current total and Federal intramural R&D expenditures among in-

dependent nonprofit institutions with the largest R&D programs, 1966 9

2. Total R&D expenditures of research institutes, by R&D expenditure size-class and

type of expenditure, 1966 - - . - - - 14

3. Current expenditures for intramural R&D performance of research institutes, by

field of science, 1964 and 1966 - — 14

4. Expenditures for extramural R&D performance of research institutes, by recipient,

1964 and 1966 16

5. Expenditures of private philanthropic foundations, by asset size-class and type of

expenditure, 1964 and 1966 - - 26

6. Total R&D expenditures of science exhibitors, by type of expenditure, 1964 and 1966 29

7. Total and FTE number of scientists and engineers employed by other nonprofit or-
ganizations, by occupational group and function, January 1967 30

8. Total R&D expenditures of other nonprofit organizations, by type of expenditure,

1966 . 32

Charts

Charts Pa0 ,

1. Trends in R&D employment and expenditures (by source) of nonprofit institutions . 6

2. Types of R&D expenditures of independent nonprofit institutions, 1966 8

3. Geographic distribution of current expenditures for intramural R&D performance of

independent nonprofit institutions, 1966 - 10

4. Percent distribution of R&D scientists and engineers (FTE) in research institutes,

by occupational group and highest earned degree, January 1967 13

6. Distribution of total R&D expenditures of research institutes, by type of expendi-
ture, 1966 - 13

6. Distribution of R&D scientists and engineers (FTE) in Federally Funded Research
and Development Centers, by occupational group and highest earned degree, January

1967 18

7. Distribution of research expenditures among selected groups of private philanthropic
foundations ranked from highest to lowest in terms of total research expenditures,

1966 -- 26

8. Total program expenditures of private philanthropic foundations, by major area of

support, 1966 27

vi

SUMMARY

• In January 1967, the full-time-equivalent (FTE) number of R&D scien-
tists and engineers employed by independent nonprofit institutions totaled
24,300, compared with 6,300 in January 1954. This represented an annual
compound rate of increase of 12.4 percent per year between 1964 and 1967.

• Current expenditures for R&D performance in independent nonprofit
institutions amounted to $800 million in 1966, about 7 times the $110 mil-
lion in 1953.

• Federal expenditures for research and development contracted to non-
profit institutions reached $640 million in 1966, nine times the $60 million
reported for 1963. As a percent of total, Federal R&D support increased
from 66 percent in 1963 to 68 percent in 1966.

• In 1966, nonprofit institutions with $1 million or more in R&D perform-
ance accounted for 83 percent of total nonprofit R&D expenditures, re-
ceived 88 percent of Federal expenditures for R&D projects contracted to

nonprofit institutions, and employed 80 percent of the FTE number of R&D
scientists and engineers.

• Organizations and individuals outside the nonprofit sector received $81
million for R&D performance from independent nonprofit institutions in
1966. Of this total, universities and colleges and their affiliated hospitals
received $63 million, or 66 percent.

1. Introduction

S ince World War II, industry and Federal
Government contracts for research have
stimulated a considerable growth in both the
number of independent nonprofit research or-
ganizations and the range of their R&D activi-
ties. In serving the advanced technological
needs of industry and government, these re-
search organizations vary greatly in their finan-
cial sources, structures, the extent of their
affiliations with other organizations, and the
diversity of their programs. The dollar magni-
tudes of their R&D programs range from less
than $50,000 to more than $75 million. Some
are concerned with research activities spanning
virtually all the natural and social sciences.

The scientific contributions of many non-
profit institutions have had a stimulating effect
on the civilian economy. For example, the Mel-
lon Institute played a key role in the develop-
ment of synthetic rubber. The Battelle Memo-
rial Institute was largely responsible for the
development of electrostatic copying. Simi-
larly, magnetic tape recording, the hypersonic
shock tunnel, and printed magnetic characters
for the processing of financial and other rec-
ords were among the many scientific contribu-
tions that resulted from research performed at
the IIT Research Institute, Cornell Aeronauti-
cal Laboratory, and Stanford Research Insti-
tute, respectively.

Independent nonprofit research organiza-
tions perform important services for Federal
and State agencies as well as for private indus-
try by providing technological advice and per-
forming research on specific problems. The
independent character of these research organi-
zations has had a significant effect on the
growth and diversification of their research
operations. By being independent, these organ-
izations are not necessarily committed to or

oriented toward the problems of any one com-
pany or government agency. Their indepen-
dence also means that they are free to estab-
lish their own objectives and employ research-
ers and managerial personnel at existing
market rates. This flexibility enables them to
acquire the managerial and technical know-how
necessary to attract research contracts from
both public and private organizations.

The nonprofit sector’s participation in the
advancement of the Nation’s science capabili-
ties goes well beyond the performance of re-
search and development. Science is further ad-
vanced by the dissemination of the knowledge
acquired in the laboratory to other members of
the scientific community. Professional or tech-
nical societies expend millions of dollars an-
nually on the publication and distribution of
scientific and technical information, the spon-
sorship of symposia, and the performance of
other services tc help insure the widest possi-
ble distribution of research findings.

Private philanthropic foundations have also
advanced the Nation’s scientific capacity by
channeling financial support to institutions
or talented individuals wishing to undertake
experimental programs. Foundations, in effect,
make research funds available to creative man-
agement in conventional institutions that
rarely have funds for innovation. Foundations
have produced a record of significant achieve-
ment in the areas of scientific research and sci-
ence education because of their ability to make
strategic allocations of their funds. Perhaps,
the most important role of foundation philan-
thropy is to serve as a catalyst to stimulate
public and private support for the solution of
social problems.

Another group of nonprofit institutions is re-
ferred to in this report as “science exhibitors”