Maximization of the economic value of research through quantifying the relations between research and the market

A tentative planning and resource allocation system for product-oriented research in large centralized research laboratories is described. The system has been developed and tested on the basis of a number of case studies. It can be used as an information system providing the research organization with research goals and their economic value and also to recommend which research project funding patterns have the greatest value to the company. The system is named QUESTAR (Quantitative Utility Evaluation Suggesting Targets for the Allocation of Resources) and has been developed in cooperation with Abt Associates, Management Consultants of Cambridge, Massachusetts.