The most significant trend in industrial science during 1941 was the increasing mobilization of science resources, both pure and applied, in university and in industrial laboratories, in the interest of national defense. The average 'loading' of all research laboratories in defense work may be 70 per cent and in some industries, notably chemical, petroleum, electrical, automotive, and aircraft, defense research may be 90 per cent of the total activities with but 10 per cent of the staff and facilities being devoted to normal peace-time work. In not a few instances post-war developments rank second only to defense.
A recent survey made by the Research Advisory Service of the Liberty Bank of Buffalo, with member banks from coast to coast, indicated that 66 per cent of the industrial companies whose chief executives responded to the inquiry 'After the Defense Boom — What?' stated that they were expanding technical research and product development. Twenty per cent of these companies representing the 'Industrial Four Hundred' have already developed new products which they are holding over for the post-war period.
Recently, the Industrial Research Institute (affiliated with the National Research Council), representing more than 40 companies in varied fields of industry, and nationally known as leaders in technology in their fields, appointed a Committee on 'Economic, Political, and Social Trends Affecting Research Policies' to study the deep and significant national trends in these three categories as they are now affecting and may in the future affect research personnel, organization, and appropriations.
The primary purpose of this Committee is to devise ways and means to preserve research organizations intact after the war. It is looking toward the formulation of a plan, which can be sponsored and backed by the only organized industrial company membership group in the United States, for some method of accumulating a surplus or sinking fund for research in lean times, some form of economic security such as irrevocable trust funds for research workers, or some form of group insurance especially designed to fit the needs of creative workers in industry.
Some of the main factors affecting research policies and activities which the study has already uncovered, are the universally expanded research programs in industry and the increased demand for experienced research executives and workers which has resulted in a 'sellers market.' Experienced research men are commanding premium positions or compensation where urgent defense requirements are bidding against industry for the immediate services of the 70,000 trained research workers now employed in 2,300 laboratories supported by industry.
With the appointment of Doctor Vannevar Bush as Director, Office of Scientific Research and Development, by Executive Order of President Roosevelt, the entire science resources of the nation including those of the armed services are now under the direction of one man. Thus for the first time in the nation's scientific history, the resources of government, industry, and university, are integrated and coordinated for the primary purpose of national defense.
Substitution of industrial materials comes second on the list as a significant trend in the defense dominated scene, with companies crossing industry boundaries. The search for substitute material in the case of at least one large automobile manufacturer has definitely indicated that the substitute material is functionally better adapted to the purpose, is cheaper and more decorative, with the result that they will probably not go back to the original material.
There is no denying the fact that industrial companies in the high income tax brackets are influenced in their plans for expanded research and accelerated product development by considerations which make it possible to transfer half or more of the research costs to Uncle Sam as a charge against current expense of doing business. This seems an equitable arrangement, since the industrial research laboratories of the country may have to absorb the shock of post war deflation by developing new low cost products, which may be characteristic of that period.
The publication by the National Resources Board of Industrial Research II. A National Resource — a survey made by the National Research Council for that body — has had a marked effect on industrial-financial groups in stimulating interest in technical research as one form of 'industrial insurance.' This is particularly true in the management and executive strata of industry and financial organizations.
Specific industrial science advances or achievements during the year have been submerged almost completely by their applications to defense requirements which have been unusually well guarded as 'secret' or 'confidential.' Only a trickle of descriptive data is reaching the technical and lay press. Even the publication of patentable devices, processes, or materials has been suppressed in the interests of national defense within the discretion of the appropriate Government officials.
This much can be said of science in industry in the year 1941; the entrance of the United States into World War II will no doubt speed up the development of national and industrial organization and integration of science and its applications by at least a quarter of a century. It should bring about a public appreciation of the contributions of science workers, with commensurate benefits in their economic and social positions in the national community. The plusses in the equation — the conquests of military aggression vs. the conquest of the unknown by the 'soldiers of science' — will add up to a larger and mightier total than the minuses.
Inspired by this hope we may move forward past the milestone of 1941 into the next few years in which the matrix of future centuries of progress will be cast, with science in the role of metallurgist, shaping swords into plowshares!
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