82 FR 41925 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2017-2019 Business Research and Development Surveys

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 170 (September 5, 2017)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41925-41926]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18656]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2017-2019 
Business Research and Development Surveys

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of 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

[[Page 41926]]

comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before November 6, 2017.

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 Research and 
Development Survey (BRDS) for the 2017-2019 survey years (collected in 
calendar years 2018-2020). The BRDS covers all domestic, non-farm, for-
profit businesses with at least 10 paid employees. The BRDS provides 
the only comprehensive data on Research and Development (R&D) 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 
the Business R&D and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) from 2008-2016), 
collecting primarily financial information on the systematic work 
companies undertake to discover new knowledge or use existing knowledge 
to develop new or improved goods and services.
    From 2008-2015, the BRDIS collected R&D and innovation data from 
companies with five or more employees. In 2016, the BRDIS collected R&D 
and innovation data from companies with at least one paid employee. 
Beginning in 2017, the BRDS will no longer collect innovation data and 
only companies with at least 10 paid employees will be in scope. The 
Census Bureau will continue to collect R&D data from companies with 
fewer than 10 employees, and innovation data from all companies, 
however, beginning in 2017, these data will be collected on a different 
survey.
    The 2017-2019 BRDS 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 intellectual property protection activities 
and technology transfer.
    Domestic and foreign researchers in academia, business, and 
government analyze and cite data from the BRDS. 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. BRDS 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

    Beginning in 2017, the BRDS will follow a primarily electronic 
collection strategy. The BRD-1 form will be available on the Web site 
to assist respondents with gathering the required data prior to 
reporting online. Paper forms will also be sent to respondents upon 
request, however no paper forms will be included in initial mail 
packets. The online survey automatically skips questions that do not 
apply [based on previous responses] and checks for common errors. Links 
to detailed question-by-question instructions will be embedded in the 
electronic instrument. Excel spreadsheets are available 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.
    The due date will be six weeks after mail out.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0912.
    Form Number: BRD-1.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: All domestic, non-farm, for-profit (public or 
private) businesses with at least 10 paid employees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 45,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3.3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 148,600.
    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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-18656 Filed 9-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P