[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR272 App A]

[Page 629]

                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE

        CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CONTINUED)

PART 272_ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT OF BASIC RESEARCH BY THE DEPARTMENT OF

 Sec. Appendix A to Part 272--Principles for the Conduct and Support of
                             Basic Research

    1. Basic research is an investment. The DoD Components are to view
and manage basic research investments as a portfolio, with assessments
of program success based on aggregate returns. There should be no
expectation that every individual research effort will succeed because
basic research essentially is an exploration of the unknown and specific
outcomes are not predictable.
    2. Basic research is a long-term activity that requires continuity
and stability of support. Individual basic research efforts sometimes
return immediate dividends, with transitions directly from research
laboratories to defense systems in the field. However, most often the
full benefits of basic research are not apparent until much later.
Therefore, the DoD Components must engage in long-term planning and
funding of basic research to the maximum possible extent.
    3. Balance is essential in the portfolio of basic research
investments. A wide range of scientific and engineering fields is of
potential interest to the Department of Defense and the DoD Components.
It is important to develop a balanced portfolio that includes
investments not only in established research areas with promise for
evolutionary advances, but also in areas that entail higher risk and
offer potential for revolutionary advances with correspondingly higher
benefits.
    4. Coordination with other Federal agencies is important. The DoD
Components are to consider other Federal agencies' basic research
investments when making investment decisions, both to avoid unintended
overlapping of support and to leverage those agencies' investments as
appropriate.
    5. Merit review is used to select basic research projects for
support. It is crucial that the Department of Defense invest in the
highest quality research for defense needs. Merit review relies on the
informed advice of qualified individuals who are independent of the
individuals proposing to do the research. The principal merit review
factors used in selecting among possible projects are technical merit
and potential long-term relevance to defense missions.