1.3. WHAT IS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) classifies and defines research as follows (Science and Engineering Indicators, 2008):

Basic Research. Basic research has as its objective "a more complete knowledge or understanding of the subject under study, without specific applications in mind." To take into account industrial goals, NSF modifies this definition for the industry sector to indicate that basic research advances scientific knowledge "but does not have specific immediate commercial objectives, although it may be in fields of present or potential commercial interest."

Applied Research. Applied research is directed toward gaining "knowledge or understanding to determine the means by which a specific, ...

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