Report of the Working Group on Basic Research in the Department of Defense
Abstract
This is a report by a Panel established by the President's Science Advisor in agreement with the Secretary of Defense to review the policies and practices of the basic research program in the Department of Defense (DOD). It is vital that the Defense Department support an extensive, vigorous, imaginative and high-quality basic research effort. The Panel urges the Secretary of Defense to affirm vigorously and publicly the critical importance of basic research to the DOD, and to clarify his policy for the support of basic research. The Panel endorses the DOD decision to continue substantial increases in the level of basic research funding for the next few years, but cautions that DOD officials must be vigilant to insure that the implementation is such as to achieve the several intended objectives. The Panel recommends that the criterion of relevance be applied primarily to broadly-defined fields and subfields of science, rather than as a filter through which every individual project must pass. The maximum quality and effectiveness of the DOD basic research is dependent on a diversified effort of universities, in-house laboratories, industry, and not-for-profit organizations utilized in a manner which properly recognizes the differences in their character and the distinct contribution each can make.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 22, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA103495
Entities
Organizations
- Executive Office of the President of the United States