[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 77 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21309-21310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8429]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2008 Business 
Research and Development Survey Pilot: The Redesigned Survey of 
Industrial Research and Development

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before June 20, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

[[Page 21310]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Richard Hough, U.S. Census Bureau, MCD HQ-7K150A, 
4600 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746, (301) 763-4823 (or via the 
internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau, with support from the National Science 
Foundation (NSF), plans to conduct a pilot of the new Business Research 
and Development Survey (BRDS) for the 2008 survey year. The BRDS 
represents a revision to the currently approved annual collection of 
the Survey of Industrial Research and Development.
    The Census Bureau has conducted the Survey of Industrial Research 
and Development (SIRD) since 1957, collecting primarily financial 
information on the systematic work companies were undertaking with the 
goal of discovering new knowledge or using existing knowledge to 
develop new or improved goods and services. During the past 50 years, 
the NSF and Census Bureau have made changes to the content of the SIRD 
based on input from companies responding to the survey as well as users 
of the data. The fundamental concepts of the survey were largely 
untouched. More recently, prompted by recommendations from the 2005 
Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) Report, Measuring Research 
and Development Expenditures in the U.S. Economy, the NSF and Census 
Bureau began a full-scale redesign of the SIRD. The goal of the 
redesign was to produce high-quality, relevant data on R&D in the 
business sector that took into account the changing reality of R&D and 
innovation.
    An inter-agency team evaluated the need for different types of data 
as well as the availability of those data within company records. This 
evaluation has resulted in numerous proposed changes. The content 
changes include but are not limited to:
     Adopting a definition of R&D based on accounting 
standards.
     Collecting worldwide R&D of domestic companies.
     Collecting business segment detail.
     Collecting R&D related capital expenditures.
     Collecting more detailed data about the R&D workforce.
     Gauging the R&D strategy of companies, and the potential 
impact of R&D on the market.
     Identifying R&D directed to application areas of 
particular national interest.
     Measuring intellectual property and technology transfer.
    Because of the broad scope of the data that will be requested, it 
is unlikely that a single point of contact within each company will be 
best able to answer all the questions. The BRDS will utilize a modular 
instrument that will facilitate obtaining of information from various 
contacts within each company that have the best understanding of the 
concepts and definitions being presented as well as access to the 
information necessary to provide the most accurate response. The 
modules have been defined by grouping questions based on subject matter 
areas within the company and currently include: A financial module 
focused on company R&D expenses; a human resources module; an R&D 
strategy and management module; an IP and technology transfer module; 
and a module focused on R&D that is funded or paid for by third 
parties. A web version of the survey is also being developed using this 
same approach. This modular instrument design is a departure from the 
SIRD and poses unique challenges in terms of contact strategies. Only 
companies identified as having a significant amount of R&D expenses 
will receive the modular version of the BRDS. All other companies will 
receive a shorter version of the survey.
    The 2008 BRDS pilot will be mailed to the entire sample. A 
comprehensive response analysis study will be conducted prior to the 
2009 survey year. We will utilize the historic time series to evaluate 
data items that are intended to collect the same concepts presented in 
the SIRD.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will use mail out/ mail back survey forms and a 
web based collection for the pilot. Companies will be asked to respond 
within 60 days of the initial mail out.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0912.
    Form Number: BRD1 & BRD1A.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not 
for-profit institutions; r-profit; non-farm companies with 5 or more 
employees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes to 24 hours (Average time: 
4 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 155,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 182, 224, and 225.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 15, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-8429 Filed 4-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P