THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
Investigating the value of information tools to R&D
scientists and engineers
An independent study of U.S. researchers, sponsored by Elsevier
Presented By:
Date:
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
METHODOLOGY
3
THE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION ...
Martin Akel & Associates (Client List)
101 Communications
AdvanStar Communications
The American Academy of Family Physicians
ABM — Agri Council
The American Express Publishing Company (Food&
Wine Magazine)
The American Pharmaceutical Association
The Axon Group/LRP Publications
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Boucher Communications (Cardinal Business Media)
Capital Publishing Company (Fidelity Investments Worth Magazine)
Chilton Publishing
Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals (Novartis)
Cowles Business Media
Dental Learning Systems
Dun & Bradstreet
Edgell Communications
Epson
Farm Journal Media
Fujitsu
Global Marketing Solutions (CeBIT; Hannover Fairs)
Goldhirsch Publishing
Hammock Publishing
IDG (InfoWorld Media Group)
Jobson Publishing
Lakewood Publications
Medical Economics Publishing Co.
Medical World Communications
OAG Official Airline Guide
PCS Health Systems
The Philadelphia Inquirer/
PhillyTech Magazine
Primedia/Intertec Corporation
Professional Media LLC
Reed Business Information/Cahners Business
Information/Gordon Publications
Reed Elsevier Medical Publishers
The Society Of Manufacturing Engineers
Springhouse Corporation
Symbol Technologies
Time Ventures
4
METHODOLOGY
Date Conducted: January, 2005
Universe Studied: 25,000 U.S. researchers in the corporate (industrial) market
selected from the Reed Business Information database; names were selected
on a random nth name basis
Market Segments: Names were selected from all types of corporate markets ...
including process manufacturing, discrete manufacturing, private research
firms, etc.
Titles Selected: Research/laboratory management as well as staff researchers
(scientists, chemists, engineers, etc.)
Medium Used: E-mail survey. One announcement e-mail plus two reminders.
Identification: The survey was sent out over the Elsevier title
Incentive: A drawing for one of ten $50 American Express Gift certificates.
With the third e-mail wave, the first 100 respondents were offered a
ten-dollar bill
Response Rate: 561 usable returns = 2.2%; margin of error (95% confidence
level) = +/- 4.2%
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
RESPONDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHICS
6
All respondents are researchers ... virtually all work for
corporate/industrial organizations
Q. “Are you personally engaged in or responsible for any R&D activities in
your company?”
Q. “Which describes your company’s primary business?”
TYPES OF BUSINESSES
Number
personally
involved In
R&D
activities:
100%
Processed products manufacturer
(pharmaceutical mfrs.; chemical processors; petroleum processors;
plastic products mfrs; other processed products)
14%
Discrete products manufacturer
(computer or peripherals mfrs.; automotive mfrs.; aerospace mfrs.;
scientific/medical instrument mfrs.; test/measurement instrument mfrs.;
telecommunications products mfrs.; semiconductor mfrs.; mfrs. Of
electronic products; metals, machinery mfrs.; mfrs. of other discrete products)
42%
Other businesses
(biotechnology companies; private research firms/labs; independent
research centers/institutes; contract research organizations;
environmental companies; software developers; consulting firms; others)
44%
7
Respondents represent experienced research staff members,
research staff members, reasearch management and
corporate management
Q. “Which best describes your title?”
RESPONDENTS’ TITLES
Number
personally
involved In
R&D
activities:
100%
Professional staff member
(scientist, chemist, researcher, investigator, technician, etc.)
Engineer
Subtotal, Technical Staff
R&D dir., mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Project dir./mgr. (team leader, section head, supv., etc.)
Engineering dir., mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Technical dir./mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Laboratory dir., mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Subtotal, Technical Management
Corporate Management
Other
20%
18%
38%
13%
11%
7%
7%
5%
43%
15%
4%
8
Respondents work for
small, medium and large businesses
Q. “What are your firm’s annual sales revenues?”
Q. “What is your firm’s total annual R&D budget?”
Q. “How many people at your location are involved in research and/or
development?”
Annual Sales Revenue
Annual R&D Budget
# People Involved In R&D
Less than $1 mill.
$1 mill. - 4.9 mill.
$5 mill. - 24.9 mill.
$25 mill. - 99 mill.
$100 mill. - 999 mill.
$1 bill. or more
Less than $250K
$250K - 999K
$1 mill. - 2.9 mill.
$3 mill. - 9.9 mill.
$10 mill. - 49.9 mill.
$50 mill. or more
1 - 49
50 - 99
100 - 499
500 - 999
1,000 or more
59%
10%
13%
8%
10%
Average:
Median:
329
41
Average:
Median:
21%
10%
13%
11%
17%
28%
$2.0 billion
$64 million
Average:
Median:
29%
16%
14%
9%
12%
20%
$105 million
$1 million
9
RESPONDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHICS
CONCLUSIONS
Respondents to this survey are experienced researchers. They are therefore very
well qualified to comment on trends affecting researchers in the corporate/industrial
market, and the need for R&D information tools.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
CHANGES IN THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR
CONDUCTING RESEARCH
11
Most researchers now face greater expectations
to contribute to their company's growth
Q. “Are there now greater expectations for researchers to contribute to the
growth of your company (enabling new processes, products,
efficiencies, etc.)?”
Expectations to contribute to corporate growth (vs. 4 - 5 years ago)
12
Reseachers feel there's now “more at risk” with their
research efforts ... that those activities have a larger
impact on their firm's success
Q. “How much more is now at risk with your research efforts ...
i.e., do the results of those efforts have a larger impact on your
firm’s success?”
Whether research efforts now impact companies to a greater degree (vs. 4 - 5 years ago)
13
Today, reseachers are pressured to achieve their
goals more quickly
Q. “Given today’s business environment, is there more pressure on
researchers to achieve their objectives more quickly?”
Whether there's pressure to achieve objectives more quickly (vs. 4 - 5 years ago)
14
Most researchers believe there's now less room for
error” in their investigative approaches
Q. “Which describes the “room for error” in your selection of approaches
used in research (i.e., the need to make the right decision the
first time)?”
Whether there's less room for error In selecting approaches to research
(vs. 4 - 5 years ago)
15
Researchers are now more concerned with achieving
breakthroughs or improvements before their
competitors do
Q. “Given the technologies and amount of information available to your
firm’s competitors, how concerned are you about their achieving
breakthroughs or improvements before your company does?”
Trend in concern with achieving breakthroughs before competitors
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CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT FOR
CONDUCTING RESEARCH
CONCLUSIONS
Among researchers, there’s a distinct trend toward enhanced pressure for
performance. Today -- there are greater expectations to contribute to the
growth of their companies, to work more quickly toward solutions, and, to
achieve positive results the first time out.
It’s an era where professionals recognize there’s now “more at risk” with
each project, and they must find ways to move the research process
forward more effectively.
They therefore require approaches and tools that: limit failures and deadends; lead to exclusive, novel processes and products; and, bring those
products to market ahead of the competition.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING
ACCESS TO THE WORK OF
OTHER RESEARCHERS
18
To ensure that their efforts are on the right track, most
researchers are now even more diligent in investigating
the work of others
Q. “To ensure that your research activities are on the right track, do you
now make a greater effort to investigate the work and experiences of
other researchers ... i.e., using journals or Web resources to examine
their theories, experiments, techniques, results, etc.?”
Change in investigating the work of other researchers (vs. 4 - 5 years ago)
19
To properly execute their responsibilities, most
professionals believe it's vital to have access to the
experiences of other researchers
Q. “To properly execute your research responsibilities, how vital is it to
have access to the work and experiences of other researchers?”
Importance of having access to the work and experiences of peers
20
As they seek the experiences of their peers, researchers
must now search through significantly more information
Q. “Given the body of work being generated by researchers, is there now
more research information you must search through and evaluate to
properly conduct your own projects?”
Amount of background information researchers must evaluate (vs. 4 - 5 years ago)
80%
Now find It more challenging to stay current with
information generated by other researchers
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THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ACCESS TO THE
WORK OF OTHER RESEARCHERS
CONCLUSIONS
Given the pressures to generate results that contribute to corporate growth,
most professionals are increasingly relying on the work of researchers who
have preceded them ... using journals or Web resources to examine their
theories, experiments, techniques and results.
As they seek to accomplish this activity, which they consider “vital” to their
objectives, researchers must search through an ever-increasing volume of
information ... a task they find more challenging than in years past.
Therefore, “R&D information tools” that enable them to conduct this search
reliably and efficiently would likely be embraced by most researchers.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
TYPES OF INFORMATION TOOLS
USED BY PROFESSIONALS;
THE VALUE OF TOOLS
The definition of R&D information
tools as described to survey
respondents
DEFINITION: The term R&D information tools refers to
peer-reviewed research journals and Web databases
containing technical research articles, abstracts, backfiles,
books, news and related literature and references.
These media enable knowledge transfer ... they make
available concepts, approaches, experiments, results and
conclusions that have been developed to date, for use by
today’s researchers. These information tools are
paid for either by you or your organization.
24
Three-quarters of the survey's respondents
use one or more types of paid information tools
Q. “Check ALL the types of R&D information tools you use in your work
-- i.e., those you or your organization PAY to access.”
73% of the survey respondents use paid R&D information tools
Note: Among researchers who use R&D information tools of any type.
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Researchers view R&D information tools as “Stepping
Stones” ... enabling them to learn what’s been accomplished
and then create the next step forward in their projects
Q. “Rather than having to reinvent that which has been achieved by other
researchers, do you use R&D information tools as “stepping stones”
... enabling you to learn what’s been accomplished and then create
the next step forward?”
Whether researchers view different types of information tools as “Stepping Stones”
Note: Among
researchers
who use R&D
information tools
of any type.
26
The primary reason researchers value R&D information tools:
provides knowledge to build on to accomplish
research objectives
Q. “Please rate R&D information tools (journals and/or technical Web
databases) on the following factors.”
Note: Among researchers who use R&D information tools of any type.
27
Researchers also utilize information tools to compare their
work with others and to support their research decisions
Q. “Please check ALL the other reasons why you use R&D
information tools.”
Additional reasons for using R&D information tools
Note: Among researchers who use R&D information tools of any type.
28
Researchers find R&D information tools to be a productive
way to stimulate innovation
Q. “How effective are R&D information tools (journals and/or technical
Web databases) in stimulating new ideas or approaches for your
research?”
The effectiveness of information tools in stimulating innovation
CASE HISTORIES
HOW RESEARCHERS USE
R&D INFORMATION TOOLS
TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE
INNOVATION PROCESS
30
CASE HISTORIES
Accellent
Air Products and Chemicals
Alcoa
Analog Devices BV
AT&T Labs
BAE Systems CFT
Baxter Healthcare
Bell Labs
Boeing
Cabot Microelectronics Corp.
Chattahoochee Composites
ChevronTexaco
ConocoPhillips
Corning
CureMD Corp
Delphi Chassis Systems
Dow Chemical
Eastman Kodak Company
E. I. DuPont
ExxonMobil Chemical Co.
Fujitsu
GE Healthcare
General Motors
Hewlett Packard Company
IBM
Ingenuity Systems
Intel Corporation
International Paper
JDS Uniphase
Johnson & Johnson
Kronos Science Laboratories
Lafarge North America
Laser Reproductions
Lincoln Electric Company
Lucent Technologies
Mary Kay Inc.
MeadWestvaco
Miller Brewing Company
Milliken & Co.
Moog, Inc.
Motorola, Inc.
MPI Research, Inc.
Nanomat, Inc.
National Semiconductor.
Northrop Grumman
Novartis
Omni Design Concepts, Inc.
Pitney Bowes
Rogers Corporation
Rosemount Inc.
SAE Magnetics
Sandvik Process Systems
Sanofi-Aventis
Schlumberger
SensorMedics Corporation
Sherwin-Williams Co
Siemens VDO
Sikorsky
Taylor Made-Adidas Golf
TerraSolar, Inc.
Texas Instruments
3M Company
Toro
TRW Automotive
Whirlpool Corp.
W. R. Grace
31
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Automotive Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Engineer
Sales Revenues: $5 billion - 7.4 billion
R&D Budget: $25 million - 49.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Magnetoelastic materials applied to
automotive sensors
Problem Or Issue Faced: Need for low-cost magnetic sensing devices
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based full-text articles;
Web-based technical references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.)
What Was Learned From Tools: We are far ahead of our competition
Applications Of Information: Redirected efforts into a more productive area
How Information Tools Contributed: Discovered that competitors’ technology was
less effective than that we use
32
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Computer/Peripherals Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Corporate manager (owner, pres., CEO, etc.)
Sales Revenues: $10 billion or more
R&D Budget: $1 billion or more
Research/Process/Product Worked On: High performance lead microprocessor,
computer architecture and arithmetic, computer algorithm, VLSI circuit design,
IC process, device modeling and simulation, design for test, special circuits
Problem Or Issue Faced: Process variation, low power design, circuit probability and
statistical design, vertical optimization from top down architecture to circuit topology
and from bottom-up layout to full chip design activities
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based abstracts/citations of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles; Web-based technical
books; Web-based technical references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.);
Web-based news related to research
What Was Learned From Tools: Most advanced research, theory, and solutions
Applications Of Information: Combine them horizontally & vertically, verify them,
exploit the interdiscipline spaces
How Information Tools Contributed: Found a solution not known before, expand
solution fields and perspectives, provide invention opportunities.
33
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Scientific/Medical Instrument Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Engineering director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $100 million - 499 million
R&D Budget: $1 million - 1.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: A steerable dialator for interventional
cardiac procedures
Problem Or Issue Faced: Patent infringement and poor prototype performance
Information Tools Used: Web-based indexes of articles/books/references, etc; Web
based abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based technical
references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.); Web-based news related
to research
What Was Learned From Tools: We were able to review existing patents. Determined
that a material change was required to improve performance
Applications Of Information: Utilized a material with higher yield strength
How Information Tools Contributed: The research accelerated the development process
by minimizing the design. iterations.
34
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Scientific/Medical Instrument Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: R&D director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $100 million - 499 million
R&D Budget: $20 million - 24.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Drug development
Problem Or Issue Faced: Searching for downstream effects
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based abstracts/citations of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles.
What Was Learned From Tools: The metabolic mechanism for binding the product in
blood and its excretion rate
Applications Of Information: Helped us to modify the drug delivery profile to minimize
side effects
How Information Tools Contributed: Gave us a new application that we were not certain
we could go after
35
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Semiconductor Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Project director/mgr. (team leader, section head, supv., etc.)
Sales Revenues: $100 million - 499 million
R&D Budget: $500K - 999K
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Communication router
Problem Or Issue Faced: Nondisclosure of technical information from competitors
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based abstracts/citations of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles; Web-based technical books;
Web-based technical references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.);
Web-based news related to research
What Was Learned From Tools: Other people’s experience
How Information Tools Contributed: Avoid mistakes. Speed up decision process.
36
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Semiconductor Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Engineer
Sales Revenues: $10 billion or more
R&D Budget: $250 million - 499 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: MEMS (microelectromechanical system)
Problem Or Issue Faced: Need for mechanical dynamic interrogation means on a MEMS
device with high frequency and in a hermetically sealed environment
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc
What Was Learned From Tools: Others using this tool for interrogation
(in academic environment)
Applications Of Information: Bought the similar tool and use it
How Information Tools Contributed: Gives unprecedented resolution and details that
are beneficial for modeling support for our product
37
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Telecommunications Product Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Engineer
Sales Revenues: $10 billion or more
R&D Budget: $25 million - 49.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Cellular phones
Problem Or Issue Faced: Without current/updated information about what the customers
may need and other companies may have
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based abstracts/citations of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles; Web-based technical
references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.); Web-based news related
to research
What Was Learned From Tools: Take out the ideas that may not be widely accepted by
the customers or may not generate great revenue
Applications Of Information: Reading/taking notes, discussing with other
engineers/managers
How Information Tools Contributed: Found a solution, not known before and avoided
mistakes/reduced cost
38
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Chemical Processor
Researcher’s Title: Professional staff member (scientist, chemist, researcher,
investigator, technician, etc.)
Sales Revenues: $10 billion or more
R&D Budget: $1 billion or more
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Coating formulations
Problem Or Issue Faced: Learning about the competitions formulations
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based abstracts/citations of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles; Web-based technical books;
Web-based technical references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.); Web-based
news related to research. What Was Learned From Tools: What others have done in
the area
Applications Of Information: IP is important we do not want to infringe upon what others
have done
How Information Tools Contributed: By knowing the approaches others have taken we
have been able to generate new ideas
39
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Chemical Processor
Researcher’s Title: R&D director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $5 billion - 7.4 billion
R&D Budget: $100 million - 249 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Composite product made from
multiple materials
Problem Or Issue Faced: Needed to improve the performance of one of the materials so
we had to understand how much was already known about our proposed approach
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based
abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles;
Web-based technical references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.)
What Was Learned From Tools: Our approach has not previously been used and
appeared to be a novel solution
Applications Of Information: Helped provide focus on critical performance properties
distinct from what was known in the literature
How Information Tools Contributed: Indicated that our approach was novel and
accelerated the work by providing comprehensive background information on what
had been published
40
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Chemical Processor
Researcher’s Title: Professional staff member (scientist, chemist, researcher,
investigator, technician, etc.)
Sales Revenues: $50 million - 99.9 million
R&D Budget: $15 million - 19.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Reducing mechanical damage during
wafer polishing
Problem Or Issue Faced: Wanted to understand indentation fracture and advances in
that field that would pertain to my problem
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based
abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles
What Was Learned From Tools: Gained basic understanding of nano-indentation and
brittle fracture, and the limits of current understanding
How Information Tools Contributed: Did not have to do certain experiments since
others have already done these. I could use published work to justify my approach
(when requesting resources at work)
41
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Plastic Products Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: R&D director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $100 million - 499 million
R&D Budget: $15 million - 19.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: New-to-world product
Problem Or Issue Faced: Needed to know state of background technology
Information Tools Used: Web-based indexes of articles/books/references, etc;
Web-based abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text
articles; Web-based technical books
What Was Learned From Tools: Technical approaches tried or proposed by others
Applications Of Information: Eliminated dead ends and duplicate effort
How Information Tools Contributed: Research accelerated; costs of program reduced;
several new directions arose for consideration
42
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Plastic Products Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Corporate manager (owner, pres., CEO, etc.)
Sales Revenues: Less than $1 million
R&D Budget: Less than $250K
Research/Process/Product Worked On: To learn about new, lower cost,
processing technologies
Problem Or Issue Faced: To improve the variety and extent of services offered to
our customers, at competitive prices
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based full-text
articles; Web-based technical books; Web-based technical references (e.g., listings
of chemical compounds, etc.); Web-based news related to research
What Was Learned From Tools: Information on what others are doing
Applications Of Information: Modification of practice
How Information Tools Contributed: Improved company competitiveness
43
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Process Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: R&D director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $50 million - 99.9 million
R&D Budget: $5 million - 9.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Thin film solar cell (photovoltaic) research
and product development
Problem Or Issue Faced: Extremely complicated interface engineering problems
impacting the performance of solar cells and modules.
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based
full-text articles; Web-based technical references (e.g., listings of chemical
compounds, etc.)
What Was Learned From Tools: The same problem that has been explored by
other people
Applications Of Information: We duplicated published ideas and tried similar ones
(not identical but closely resembling the published work in concepts)
How Information Tools Contributed: We have found a practical solution to the
problem, even though we do not yet understand why the solution works
44
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Biotechnology Company
Researcher’s Title: R&D director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $10 million - 24.9 million
R&D Budget: $15 million - 19.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Biological pathway discovery, knowledge
capture tools for biologists
Problem Or Issue Faced: Need to stay abreast of the latest tools and discoveries
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles; Web-based news
related to research
What Was Learned From Tools: Novel approaches, latest advances, new ideas
Applications Of Information: Extended and modified our research efforts
How Information Tools Contributed: Identified new research directions. Avoided
known roadblocks
45
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Biotechnology Company
Researcher’s Title: R&D director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $50 million - 99.9 million
R&D Budget: $5 million - 9.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Immunology.
Problem Or Issue Faced: Target identification.
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles.
What Was Learned From Tools: Possible targets.
Applications Of Information: Experiment with the list of possible targets.
How Information Tools Contributed: Identified a novel target for our research.
46
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Consulting Firm
Researcher’s Title: Technical director/mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $5 million - 9.9 million
R&D Budget: $500K - 999K
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Metal/plastic hybrid materials
Problem Or Issue Faced: Developing next generation products
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based
abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based news related
to research
What Was Learned From Tools: The state of the technology and user information
Applications Of Information: Developing patent for new product.
How Information Tools Contributed: Created exclusive business opportunities
in product development.
47
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Private Research Firm/Laboratory
Researcher’s Title: Corporate manager (owner, pres., CEO, etc.)
Sales Revenues: Less than $1 million
R&D Budget: Less than $250K
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Sporting apparatus.
Problem Or Issue Faced: Prior patents.
Information Tools Used: Web-based indexes of articles/books/references, etc;
Web-based abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based
full-text articles; Web-based technical books; Web-based technical references
(e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.); Web-based news related to research.
What Was Learned From Tools: Recently developed concepts.
Applications Of Information: Modified our approach.
How Information Tools Contributed: Found our concept was not patented.
48
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Software Developer
Researcher’s Title: Engineering director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $50 million - 99.9 million
R&D Budget: $1 million - 1.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Mobile product for the healthcare world
Problem Or Issue Faced: Existing products on the same genre were not
comprehensive enough, plus they were not using the latest features available
in these products
Information Tools Used: Web-based indexes of articles/books/references, etc;
Web-based abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based
technical books
What Was Learned From Tools: The way for maximum ROI for our project
Applications Of Information: Used the info to improve our application’s
performance and features
How Information Tools Contributed: Found a solution someone else had already
invented, and saved upon our R&D budget. This budget was then used in other
facets of implementation
49
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Medical Device Manufacturer
Researcher’s Title: Project director/mgr. (team leader, section head, supv., etc.)
Sales Revenues: $1 million - 4.9 million
R&D Budget: $250K - 499K
Research/Process/Product Worked On: New molding materials
Problem Or Issue Faced: A molding problem, causing defective parts
Information Tools Used: Web-based full-text articles; Web-based technical references
(e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.)
What Was Learned From Tools: Information provided suggested a change in the
molding processes
Applications Of Information: We changed the processes
How Information Tools Contributed: Because of the information obtained we
improved our scrap rate from 50% to 5%
50
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Nanotechnology
Researcher’s Title: R&D director, mgr., asst. mgr., etc.
Sales Revenues: $10 million - 24.9 million
R&D Budget: $10 million - 14.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Nanomaterials and their application
Problem Or Issue Faced: In case of repeating other’s works
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based indexes of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based abstracts/citations of
articles/books/references, etc; Web-based full-text articles; Web-based technical
books; Web-based technical references (e.g., listings of chemical compounds, etc.);
Web-based research news
What Was Learned From Tools: 1. Other’s works, 2. avoid repeating, 3. produce
new ideas
Applications Of Information: I will not do what the others did and produce new
ideas for our product
How Information Tools Contributed: 1. New idea in my mind. 2. Check information
tools to see if other people did before. 3. Do experiments and patent application
51
Q. “Please describe one EXAMPLE of how you’ve used R&D information
tools (journals and/or technical Web databases) to gain knowledge to
address research problems or issues.”
CASE SITUATION – Supplier Of Construction Materials
Researcher’s Title: New Product Development
Sales Revenues: $500 million - 999 million
R&D Budget: $2 million - 2.9 million
Research/Process/Product Worked On: Patent seeking to increase
production/lowering cost with existing assets without suffering quality
Problem Or Issue Faced: Product shortage
Information Tools Used: Peer-reviewed research journals; Web-based
abstracts/citations of articles/books/references, etc; Web-based news related
to research
What Was Learned From Tools: What competition is doing or maybe not doing
Applications Of Information: New patents
How Information Tools Contributed: Development of new solutions without
major capital investment
52
Researchers believe the investments in paid information
tools are accountable ... enhancing productivity
beyond the cost of the tools
Q. “How accountable is your company’s investment in R&D information
tools ... i.e., do they enhance productivity and/or advance the research
process in excess of the cost?”
ACCOUNTABILITY
"Enhancing productivity
and/or advancing the
research process
in excess of the cost."
53
How researchers measure & justify the ROI
from paid information tools
Q. “How do you measure or define the ROI that your company
receives from R&D information tools ... i.e., in what ways is the
investment justified?”
ELIMINATING PROJECTS THAT ARE DEAD-ENDS
“Successful outcomes reached with minimum time, with fewer
failures/dead-ends.”
“In terms of ‘right (the) first time’ in reduction of ideas to practice.”
“Investment is justified by avoiding costly failures or setbacks later
in the program.”
“Success rate of project attempts.”
54
How researchers measure & justify the ROI
from paid information tools
DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS & PROCESSES
“It is defined in terms of significant contributions to new products.”
“From the patents filed and new products introduced to markets.”
“Through transfer of knowledge, patent disclosures gained due to research.”
“Based on number of IPs filed.”
“New ideas produced.”
“We monitor sales of new products versus R&D costs.”
“Based on the output, in terms of novel research.”
“Ideas sold into the market makes the ROI.”
55
How researchers measure & justify the ROI
from paid information tools
BRINGING PRODUCTS TO MARKET FASTER
“Speed to market, quality and innovative products.”
“How fast the goal is achieved and goes into production.”
“New products developed faster.”
“Accelerates research, shortens development time, leads to better product.”
“Helps us get to market faster.”
“The hit ratio of getting to market with an idea in a timely fashion.”
56
How researchers measure & justify the ROI
from paid information tools
THE IMPACT ON SALES & PROFITABILITY
“Impact on cash flow, market share gained or lost, profitability.”
“Comparing the investment to the value of contracts won.”
“Incremental revenues, profitability and customer loyalty.”
“Additional dollars (in) earnings as a result of using the information versus
the cost.”
“Product sales over a given period against R&D cost.”
“Value to program, rate of return, or increased sales.”
“(It’s) part of the overall R&D results metrics, such as % of sales from
products introduced, patents issued, and progress through product in
troduction process.”
57
How researchers measure & justify the ROI
from paid information tools
REDUCING COSTS/ENHANCING EFFICIENCIES
“Successful projects and amount of money saved or gained because a
solution was found quickly and efficiently.”
“Reduced costs due to new processes or change in existing ones.”
“Great money saving.”
“Saves lot of R&D money.”
“Efficiency improvement & material cost reduction resulting from it.”
58
How researchers measure & justify the ROI
from paid information tools
OTHER TYPES OF ROI
“The amount and quality of research is greatly enhanced when
(we) provide reference materials.”
“Increase in research grants.”
“Investment is justified with the number of papers published.”
“Client satisfaction with product.”
“Although there is no precise way of measuring the ROI, there is
consensus among technical personnel that information is critical.”
“The dollar pay back of the investment exceeds the cost. It does not have
to be calculated on a per project basis, but is observed over all projects
and departments.”
59
If paid R&D information tools were no longer available to them,
researchers indicate they'd be at a significant disadvantage
Q. “How much of a liability/disadvantage would it be if you didn’t
have access to R&D information tools (peer-reviewed journals,
Web resources, etc.)?”
Whether removing paid information tools would be a liability/disadvantage in
conducting research
60
If paid information tools were no longer available ...
researchers' reactions
Q. “What would be the impact if those tools were no longer available
to you?”
“Would be working in the dark resulting in wasted effort and bad decisions.”
“My work would take so much longer, I would be less efficient and we couldn’t
move forward with some projects as quickly.”
“It would extend the research phase of our projects.”
“Longer development times.”
“Research progress would be greatly slowed.”
“We would fall behind our competitors all world over.”
“Higher chance of unintentional patent infringement.”
“Extra work, time wasted, money wasted, manpower wasted.
“The cost of R&D would go up.”
“Would increase use of outside consultants.”
61
If paid information tools were no longer available ...
researchers' reactions
“Significant drop in productivity.”
“Unable keep up with progress, incorporate new methods.”
“A negative effect on project time (through reinventing the wheel).”
“Become not creative, waste a lot of time.”
“We would no longer have a research program.”
“It would be SAD!”
“Cannot imagine that; wouldn’t know how to do work.”
“Almost make doing my work impossible today.”
“My work would have less value and my job would be abandoned.”
“Look for a new job!”
“We would look for other lines of work.”
“Back to the dark ages.”
62
TYPES OF INFORMATION TOOLS USED BY
PROFESSIONALS; THE VALUE OF TOOLS
CONCLUSIONS
Researchers regard paid information tools, including journals and Web
databases, as critical to the research process ... especially because they act
as “stepping stones”, enabling them to build upon the work of others. They
view these tools as essential in stimulating innovation.
As such, they find these tools to be accountable ... to offer a return on
investment in excess of their costs. They see them as: bringing products to
market more swiftly; helping avoid the wrong research approaches; helping
avoid reinventing products that already exist; and, as leading to increased
revenues and profits.
Therefore, paid information tools are very likely to be as important to
researchers as the other tools they use (research equipment, systems, etc.).
Organizations that do not provide in-depth, authoritative resources to their
researchers, should reconsider doing so in light of the productivity linked to
having access.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT
WITH PAID R&D
INFORMATION TOOLS
64
Most often, researchers access print journals via their
companies’ paid subscriptions
Q. “Check how you access printed, peer reviewed journals (i.e., those
which require paid subscriptions).”
How researchers gain access to paid, printed, peer reviewed journals
I pay for subscription(s) out of my pocket
27%
My firm pays for subscriptions in my name
37%
Subtotal, have personal subscriptions*
55%
Our department at work has subscriptions
30%
Central library in our company has subscriptions
50%
Subtotal, number with company paying for subscriptions*
83%
Use a library outside our company (university, public library, etc.)
38%
Subtotal, number accessing at internal/external library*
68%
Note: Among those with access to paid peer reviewed journals. *Unduplicated.
65
Nine of ten researchers access paid web databases from
their desks at work ... half also access them at home
Q. “Check how you access Web databases containing technical articles,
books, references, data, etc. (i.e., those which require paid access).”
How researchers gain access to paid, web databases containing R&D info. tools
From a computer on my desk at work
88%
From my computer at home
49%
Subtotal, access from own computer at work or home*
91%
Central library in our company
25%
Library in our department at work
10%
Subtotal, access at library at work*
30%
From a computer in another central location at work
5%
Use a library outside our company (university, public library, etc.)
16%
Subtotal, access at library internal/external*
38%
Note: Among those with access to paid peer reviewed journals. *Unduplicated.
66
To achieve their objectives, researchers are spending a
significant amount of time with paid R&D information tools
Q. “Approximately how much time do you spend each day working with
R&D information tools?”
Q. “How often do you refer to R&D information tools?”
Average number of times used per week
Avg. time spent
using R&D
information tools
per day:
1 hr., 56 min.
Peer-reviewed
research journals
2.9 times/wk.
Web databases
with technical
articles, books,
references, data, etc.
4.1 times/wk.
67
The time researchers invest with paid information tools
will expand in the future
Q. “Given your informational needs -- how is your use of peer-reviewed
research journals changing?”
Q. “How is your use of Web databases changing (i.e., online technical
articles, books, references, data, etc.)?”
68
THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH PAID R&D
INFORMATION TOOLS
CONCLUSIONS
Given the importance researchers place on using R&D information tools as
“stepping stones” to innovation, they access them multiple times each week
and spend two hours a day with journals and Web databases.
Their reliance on these tools is such that they anticipate investing even more
time with them.
Therefore, paid R&D information tools will continue to become an even more
important part of the overall research process. Organizations that do not
offer access, may find their researchers at a increasing disadvantage
versus competitors.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
WHERE TOOLS ARE NOT
AVAILABLE: RESEARCHERS’
DESIRE TO GAIN ACCESS
70
The primary reason researchers do not use paid R&D
information tools -- money is not made available
Q. “Please check ALL the reasons why you don’t use or have access
to R&D information tools -- peer-reviewed research journals and
Web-based references (both of which must be paid-for by you or
your organization).”
Reasons why researchers are not given access to paid R&D information tools*
*Among those without access
71
Almost all researchers who don't have access to Paid R&D
Information Tools, desire to have them made available
Q. “Check ALL the types of R&D information tools you do not have
access to now, but would like to access if possible”
Number of researchers who desire to have
access to paid R&D information tools*
*Among those without access
Types of information tools researchers
would like to access*
72
The main reason researchers want to use paid R&D
information tools – to "Gain Knowledge We Can Build On"
Q. “Check ALL the reasons why you would like to have access to the
types of information tools listed above.”
Note: Among those without access
73
If researchers had access to paid information tools,
it would impact their work in a variety of ways ...
Q. “If you had access to R&D information tools, how would it
impact your research efforts?”
“Easy-to-use tools might drive me to look up information about a project. Credible
academic works would be superior to what usually comes back in a ‘Google’.”
“I’ve found information on the Internet that everyone told me I have to pay for, but was
free.
I would not like to have to dig so hard and deep since I have to search for hours for
something that should only take minutes.”
“To avoid unnecessary time/effort/expenditures, I like to check (that) similar work has not
already been done. Usually it has, and we can build off of this work and avoid ‘reinventing
the wheel’. Difficult to find time for library trips though.”
“Would) make results more predictive and reduce testing time, saving resources
and getting the product to market sooner and gaining revenues earlier.”
“Quicken time to market.”
“Would speed up the process.”
“#1 would be more rapid development of design and process concepts.”
“We would be able to work with more solid information and move forward faster.”
“Quicker, more accurate research.”
“Lower project development costs.”
74
If researchers had access to paid information tools,
it would impact their work in a variety of ways ...
“It would give me some idea of what to expect from my research, and how to twist it to
favor my company.”
“Chief impact would be the ability to gauge the research activities of other,
competing groups.”
“More ideas of what might work, more confidence that something will work.”
“We would do more research ‘up front’ to find mistakes others have already made.”
“Eliminate a lot of trial and error research.”
“I would be spending less time and money finding information, which translates into
more productivity.”
“The impact would be toward making decisions based on more factual data.”
“Identify collaboration opportunities.”
“Increase knowledge, save time, prevent errors.”
“It would allow for more educated decision making for project direction.”
“Less risk, faster results.”
“Enlarge the horizon, (be) more productive.”
“These tools would give us a clear picture of the scope of the research much quicker,
and eliminate redundancy.”
75
Most researchers believe they'd be more productive
if they had access to paid R&D information tools
Q. “If you had access to R&D information tools, would you be more
productive in your research activities?”
76
WHERE TOOLS ARE NOT AVAILABLE:
RESEARCHERS’ DESIRE TO GAIN ACCESS
CONCLUSIONS
Nine of ten researchers who don’t have access to paid information tools wish
to have them. The principal reason they do not have access is lack of
budget.
Yet, they anticipate that given access they would be able to accomplish their
objectives more effectively, accelerate the research process, and help their
firms gain a competitive edge.
Therefore, their organizations should consider reevaluating making funds
available ... because such investments would positively impact the reasons
why research is being conducted in the first place.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
IN INNOVATION
RESEARCHERS’ INVOLVEMENT
WITH INFORMATION TOOLS
AVAILABLE FROM ELSEVIER
78
Scientists and engineers who access Elsevier's web
databases, value them as “Stepping Stones” to build upon
and achieve objectives
Q. “How valuable are Elsevier’s services as ‘stepping stones’ ... in
providing information you can ‘build on’ to accomplish your own
research objectives?”
Opinion of web databases available through Elsevier as “Stepping Stones”
Databases mentioned
in the survey to qualify
researchers as users
of Elsevier's
online resources
Engineering Village 2
ScienceDirect
Ei EnCompass
79
Researchers rate the online databases available through
Elsevier as superior to other scientific and engineering
web services
Q. “Please rate Elsevier’s services (Web databases) on the
following criteria.”
80
RESEARCHERS’ INVOLVED WITH INFORMATION
TOOLS AVAILABLE FROM ELSEVIER
CONCLUSIONS
Today’s researchers rely heavily on R&D information tools. Those who’ve
experienced the Web tools available through Elsevier, have high opinions of
them as offering the necessary “stepping stones” to innovation ... especially
as compared to other services.
Companies that are evaluating which services would best contribute to their
researchers' efforts, will find Elsevier’s information products to be among the
leading alternatives.