National Materials Research and Development Capability

Recommendations included in a 1975 report were designed to improve the Federal Government's ability to formulate effective national materials policy by improving the adequacy of information on materials R&D in the public and private sectors. A followup review indicated that virtually no corrective action was taken since the 1975 report. There are still no stated national materials policy goals or objectives; no organization has assumed responsibility for overseeing all materials R&D; and adequate steps have not been taken to develop a comprehensive materials R&D information system. Following the earlier report, Congress established the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) within the Executive Office of the President to oversee scientific, engineering, and technological considerations that require attention at the highest levels of Government. OSTP is the best existing institution to oversee the Government's R&D program. The Director of OSTP should: determine the type of materials R&D data needed, determine national materials research needs, and develop relevant budget recommendations. Congress should enact legislation which would recognize the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange as the official data center for all materials-related research and development. The President of the Exchange should be more aggressive in gathering data from non-Federal sources and in filling agency requests. The Office of Management and Budget should require a mandatory reporting system for all agency materials R&D data.