Should the Government Intentionally Influence Research and Development?

This paper proposes and discusses several ways that the Federal government could indirectly support research and development (R&D) by instrument manufacturers. Subjects covered include education of engineers and technicians; laws covering joint R&D efforts by competing companies; development and maintenance of standards in cooperation with industry groups and IEEE as well as by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS); tax incentives for research by industry; industrial support of university research and plant modernization; better use of Federal laboratories, including NBS; and better procedures for procurement of new, state-of-the-art instruments for government use.