Focus of SRS COV and Follow-Up Actions by SRS National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Focus of SRS COV and Follow-Up Actions by SRS Dr. Lynda T. Carlson Division Director SBE Advisory Committee November 19, 2009 National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics www.nsf.gov/statistics/

Focus of SRS COV in March 2009 National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Focus of SRS COV in March 2009 To review SRS progress in implementing the recommendations of a CNSTAT Committee to update and enhance its data on industrial R&D SRS’s performance as a Federal Statistical Agency The development of an internal capacity in SRS to develop data on innovation

National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics With Respect to the Business R&D and Innovation (BRDIS) Survey, the COV noted: BRDIS represents a highly responsive, systematically planned effort and redesign of the Industry R&D Survey SRS implemented a number of recommendations with respect to data needed and how to collect the data SRS staff must continue to visit companies as part of the survey development For the innovation section, SRS needs a well-defined transparent consultative process comparable to that employed in the rest of BRDIS SRS needs an ongoing experts panel for BRDIS

With respect to SRS as a statistical agency, the COV noted: National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics With respect to SRS as a statistical agency, the COV noted: “SRS operates within the standards expected of a Federal statistical agency and, moreover, has accomplished a great deal with limited resources.” It is hard to see how SRS can continue to do the kind of work it does without: major expansion of its program closer coordination within SBE significant increase of resources strategic planning exercise to help prioritize its efforts to redesign and improve its surveys establishment of a permanent Advisory Panel for SRS

National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Data on Innovation “SRS has taken the first step in adding an innovation question to BRDIS” “SRS needs to develop an internal capacity to analyze the innovation data and subsequently collect data on organizational innovation and business practices and market development” “SRS needs to develop a framework of what needs to be done in the future for measuring innovation” “SRS needs close interaction with SciSIP to have each program inform the needs of the other” “SRS needs a well-defined, transparent consultative process” for development of an innovation component “SRS staff will have to be deeply engaged in site visits with firms and data users if they are to collect appropriate data”

SRS Strategies for Becoming More “Visible” National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SRS Strategies for Becoming More “Visible” Request to the NSF Director for name change to National Center for Science Statistics (NCSS) Parallel to NCES and NCHS Requires Congressional authorization Formalizes SRS as a permanent entity within NSF Make NSF Senior Staff more aware of SRS All NSF Senior Staff on a listserve to receive SRS publications Director and Deputy Director receive e-mails regarding important activities in SRS Quarterly Report of SRS activities to be sent to all NSF Senior Staff Quarterly Report of SRS activities to be sent to NSB Science and Engineering Indicators Committee members Annual Report on SRS activities to be sent to NSF GPRA Com’t Each Directorate asked to provide an SRS contact regarding personnel and R&D issues

Further Strategies for Becoming “Visible” National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Further Strategies for Becoming “Visible” Request to become member of Federal Economic Statistics Committee (FESAC), joining Census, BLS, BEA SRS participation in the development of the NSF Strategic Plan Ongoing internal Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/ Challenges (SWOC) activity Developed preliminary plan to address improving timeliness of SRS publications SRS Senior Staff working with a facilitator in establishing and communicating SRS priorities SRS “Break Out Group” as part of the SBE AC Press releases issued with each data release Staff member moved to the SRS Senior Staff with focus on increasing the visibility of SRS Series of press conferences are planned for BRDIS releases Worldwide R&D or employment Innovation