[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28730-28731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12136]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2011 Business 
R&D and Innovation Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

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 July 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

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 the Business R&D and Innovation 
Survey (BRDIS) for the 2011 survey year. The BRDIS

[[Page 28731]]

provides the only comprehensive data on R&D expense covering all 
domestic non-farm businesses and detailed expenses by type and 
industry.
    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. 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 resulted in the fielding of the 2008 BRDIS as a full scale 
pilot survey. The team used the results of the pilot to make 
improvements for the 2009/2010 BRDIS cycles. The 2011 BRDIS will 
continue to collect the following types of information:
     R&D expense based on accounting standards.
     Worldwide R&D of domestic companies.
     Business segment detail.
     R&D related capital expenditures.
     Detailed data about the R&D workforce.
     R&D strategy and data on the potential impact of R&D on 
the market.
     R&D directed to application areas of particular national 
interest.
     Data measuring innovation, intellectual property 
protection activities and technology transfer.
    The BRDIS utilizes a booklet instrument that facilitates the 
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 sections of the booklet have been defined 
by grouping questions based on subject matter areas within the company 
and currently include: A company information section that includes 
detailed innovation questions; a financial section focused on company 
R&D expenses; a human resources section; an R&D strategy and management 
section; an IP and technology transfer section; and a section focused 
on R&D that is funded or paid for by third parties. A Web instrument is 
also available to the companies. The Web instrument incorporates the 
use of Excel spreadsheets that are provided to facilitate the 
electronic collection of information within the companies. Companies 
have the capability to download the spreadsheets from the Census 
Bureau's Web site; the Census Bureau also provides a spreadsheet that 
is programmed to consolidate the information for the companies so the 
company can simply upload this information into the Web instrument.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0912.
    Form Number: BRDI-1 & BRDI-1A. You can obtain information on the 
proposed content at this Web site: http://www.census.gov/mcd/clearance.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: All for-profit, public or private, non-farm 
companies with 5 or more employees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:

BRDI-1--(Long Form) 3,000
BRDI-1A--(Short Form) 40,000
    Total 43,000

    Estimated Time per Response:

BRDI-1--(Long Form) 14.3 hrs
BRDI-1A--(Short Form) 2.2 hrs

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 130,900.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to the respondents 
is $4,243,778.
    Respondents Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 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: May 12, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-12136 Filed 5-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P