81 FR 61183 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2016-2018 Business R&D and Innovation Surveys

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 172 (September 6, 2016)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61183-61184]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21281]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2016-2018 
Business R&D and Innovation Surveys

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before November 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Michael Flaherty, U.S. Census Bureau, HQ-6H149, 
4600 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746 (301) 763-7699 (or via the 
internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau, with support from the National Science 
Foundation (NSF), plans to conduct the Business R&D and Innovation 
Survey (BRDIS) for the 2016-2018 survey years. The BRDIS covers all 
domestic, non-farm, for-profit businesses with at least one paid 
employee. The BRDIS provides the only comprehensive data on research 
and development costs and detailed expenses by type and industry.
    The Census Bureau has conducted an R&D survey since 1957 (the 
Survey of Industrial Research and Development (SIRD) from 1957-2007 and 
BRDIS from 2008-present), collecting primarily financial information on 
the systematic

[[Page 61184]]

work companies undertake to discover new knowledge or use existing 
knowledge to develop new or improved goods and services.
    Prior to 2016, only companies with a minimum of five employees were 
in scope to the BRDIS. Beginning in 2016, the BRDIS will increase it's 
scope to include microbusinesses, or firms with fewer than five 
employees. Sampled companies in this target population will receive a 
BRDI-M form. Companies with five or more employees will receive the 
standard form (BRDI-1) or if selected for the screener questionnaire, 
the BRDI-1(S) form. Expanding the coverage of the BRDIS will help 
policymakers address issues such as how small businesses are affected 
by the rapid changes in our economy and what the smallest businesses 
are doing to be competitive.
    The 2016-2018 BRDIS will continue to collect the following types of 
information:
     R&D expense based on accepted accounting standards.
     Worldwide R&D of domestic companies.
     Business segment detail.
     R&D-related capital expenditures.
     Detailed data about the R&D workforce.
     R&D strategy and data on the potential impact of R&D on 
the market.
     R&D directed to application areas of particular national 
interest.
     Data measuring innovation, intellectual property 
protection activities and technology transfer.
    The BRDI-1 form utilizes a booklet instrument that facilitates the 
collection of information from various contacts within each company who 
have the best understanding of the concepts and definitions being 
presented as well as access to the information necessary to provide the 
most accurate response. The sections of the booklet correspond to areas 
within the company and currently include: A company information section 
that includes detailed innovation questions; a financial section 
focused on company R&D expenses; a human resources section; an R&D 
strategy and management section; an IP and technology transfer section; 
and a section focused on R&D that is funded or paid for by third 
parties. A web instrument is also available to respondents. The web 
instrument for the BRDI-1 form incorporates Excel spreadsheets that are 
provided to facilitate the electronic collection of information from 
various areas of the companies. Respondents have the capability to 
download the spreadsheets from the Census Bureau's Web site. A 
consolidator spreadsheet is also available to assist companies that 
need to gather information from business units and then compile the 
information into one company report.
    Domestic and foreign researchers in academia, business, and 
government analyze and cite data from the BRDIS. Among the federal 
government users are the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the 
White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). BEA 
includes R&D in the system of national accounts that measures the 
economic well-being of the country. BRDIS data are key inputs into 
these accounts, which feed into the calculation of the U.S. Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP). The White House, in 2006, issued the American 
Competitiveness Initiative to ``increase investments in research and 
development, strengthen education, and encourage entrepreneurship.'' In 
support of this initiative and in response to legislative mandates, 
data on R&D are delivered to OSTP, primarily in the biennial National 
Science Board report Science and Engineering Indicators. Also, the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) produces a series of publications 
containing R&D data including the National Patterns of R&D Resources 
series, the S&E State Profile series, and the annual Business R&D and 
Innovation series. Special reports and other publications are also 
prepared.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will use a paperless strategy for the standard 
form (BRDI-1). Respondents will be mailed a letter referring them to 
the Census Bureau's Business Help Site where they can report online. 
Some companies selected for the screener form [BRDI-1(S)] will receive 
a letter only in initial mail out, directing them to report online. 
Others will receive a paper form in initial mailout that they can mail 
back. The microbusiness form (BRDI-M) is a mail out/mail back survey 
form. Respondents to all form types will have the option to report 
electronically. The due date for the standard form will be 
approximately 60 days from receipt. The due date for all other form 
types will be approximately 30 days from receipt.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0912.
    Form Number: BRDI-1, BRDI-1(S), and BRDI-M.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: All domestic, non-farm, for-profit (public or 
private) businesses with at least one paid employee.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:

BRDI-1--(Standard Form)......................................      7,000
BRDI-1(S)--(Screener Form)...................................     38,000
BRDI-M--(Microbusiness Form).................................    200,000
  Total......................................................    245,000
 

    Estimated Time per Response:

BRDI-1--(Standard Form)..................  14.85 hours.
BRDI-1(S)--(Screener Form)...............  0.59 hours.
BRDI-M--(Microbusiness Form).............  0.25 hours.
 

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 176,370.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 8(b), 131, 
and 182, and Title 42, United States Code, Sections 1861-76 (National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 31, 2016
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-21281 Filed 9-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P