CCR Action Network to Advance Research Investment

Leaders:
Matthew Tarr, University of New Orleans
Terry Ring, University of Utah

Sustaining investment in research in a time of industry mergers and acquisitions, stock market fluctuations, and federal funding trends that de-emphasize research is a major challenge and priority for CCR. The chemical industry's share of total U.S. R&D has declined from 11 percent in 1956 to 8 percent in 1992. Today, federal funding accounts for approximately 31% of the total research enterprise in the United States and is the primary support for such programs at federal laboratories and universities. When push comes to shove and funding decisions are made, research is often viewed as an expense, with little or no understanding of its long-term nature and the benefits produced. As executives and scientists, CCR representatives know that support for research is an investment in the future. Because research is the foundation of scientific advances, research funding today provides better products, better health, cleaner environment, and robust economy of tomorrow.

Making the case for R&D funding is a tough challenge as decisionmakers often have urgent priorities that make it difficult to allocate limited resources to longer term activities. Despite the obvious potential and dramatic stories about the qualitative benefits, quantifying the return on the research investment has been a tough nut to crack. Although it was clear that twentieth century economic growth came largely through increases in knowledge capital, especially research, until now macroeconomic studies have addressed the contributions of research only to the nation's general economic growth. The study commissioned by CCR in 2000 for the first time gives us a value creation metric and applies it to a specific research community - the companies, universities, and government laboratories that are the research base for the U.S. chemical industry.

Taking into account all of the benefits of research - to society, to the economy, and as a key part of the education process - CCR volunteers work leader-to-leader with key decisionmakers sharing knowledge about the nature of the research investment and making recommendations about levels of research funding that sustain our ability to produce results. 

Recent and On-going Activities:

Hosting a Visit of a Member of Congress to Your Organization - This useful guide gives tips on how to host a visit from a Member of Congress, with sample invitation and thank letters.

Contributions of Chemical Research Study Rollout - In early June 2001, the results of the study, “Measuring Up: Research & Development Counts for the Chemical Industry” (Phase I) were made public through joint release in Washington and New York. The second phase of this project, “Measure for Measure: Chemical R&D Powers the U.S. Innovation Engine” (Phase II) was released publicly in Fall 2005. In November 2009, CCR and NSF hosted a workshop, “Assessing and Enhancing the Impact of Science R&D in the United States: Chemical Sciences” (Phase III) where academic scholars and industry experts discussed the state of knowledge about the impact of science R&D in the United States, focusing on chemical sciences and related industries. Read summaries of the Phase I, II, and III studies.

Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits - A delegation of CCR member representatives participate in this annual event (cosponsored with other science and engineering societies and research-intensive companies) to interact with research executives in the Administration and Congress to underscore the importance of research to our nation's future. Project Leader: Terry Ring, University of Utah

Federal Funding of Research - CCR prepares position statements and congressional testimony on funding of chemistry-related research by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Departments of Energy, Commerce, and Defense. In particular, CCR advocates policies that reward investment in technological innovation and encourage partnering and strategic alliances. Projects are staffed by volunteer members of CCR's Rapid Response Team. Contact Terry Ring for details.