1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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”

6. 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 s 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

7. 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