Scientific Research and Industry

Abstract

THE Committee appointed in March 1931 by the Economic Advisory Council to examine the project for promoting new industrial development in Great Britain by establishing a central national research organisation independent of existing Government and private organisations, has just issued its report. This gives a survey of the existing organisation of industrial research in Great Britain and an analysis of the arguments for a new national research organisation, as well as of proposals for a development fund for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, a compulsory levy for support of research associations, and the preparation by Government of scientific digests. The Committee is satisfied that the existing Government organisation for the promotion of industrial research is efficient and sufficiently flexible to enable it to develop along the lines required to meet the changing needs of industry. The formation of a new national research organisation would cut right across the existing organisation of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and, by causing confusion of purpose and distraction of effort, would be likely to injure rather than forward the cause of scientific research in British industry.