Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2018-2020 Business Research and Development Surveys, 42866-42867 [2018-18374]

Agencies

• Census Bureau
• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42866-42867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18374]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2018-2020 
Business Research and Development Surveys

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before October 23, 2018.

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 2018-2020 survey years. 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, 
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.
    Beginning in 2018, the BRDS will collect new data about R&D on 
artificial intelligence and geographic detail of companies' R&D 
workforce. There is increasing interest among domestic policy-makers 
and in the international community, as well as among U.S. researchers 
in academia, government and industry, for more data on artificial 
intelligence. Domestic and foreign geographic information for R&D 
workforce will address Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) requests on 
inputs for enhanced estimation and evaluation of gross domestic product 
by state, foreign direct investment in the U.S., and U.S. direct 
investment abroad.
    The 2018-2020 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

[[Page 42867]]

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 BRDS will follow a primarily electronic collection strategy. 
The BRD-1 form will be available on the website 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 website. 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 U.S.C. Sections 131 and 182.

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,
PRA Department Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-18374 Filed 8-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P