Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Basic Research January 2012 Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Washington, D.C. 20301-3140 This report is a product of the Defense Science Board (DSB). The DSB is a Federal Advisory Committee established to provide independent advice to the Secretary of Defense. Statements, opinions, conclusions, and recommendations in this report do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of Defense (DOD). The DSB Task Force on Basic Research completed its information gathering in April 2011. The report was cleared for open publication by the DOD Office of Security Review on December 7, 2011. This report is unclassified and cleared for public release. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 3140 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC 20301 - 3140 DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD MEMORANDUM FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION, TECHNOLOGY, AND LOGISTICS SUBJECT: Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Basic Research I am pleased to forward the final report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Basic Research. The report offers important considerations for the Department of Defense to maintain a world-dominating lead in basic research. Beginning with efTorts supporting World War II, the United States built a commanding scientific infrastructure second to none, and reaped considerable military and economic benefits as a result. The task force took on the task to both validate the quality of the existing DoD basic research program and to provide advice on long-term basic research planning and strategies. Overall, the task force found the current DoD basic research program to be a very good one, comparable to other basic research programs in the government and well-suited to DoD needs. The managers are highly qualified, reviews are plentiful, and coordination is excellent. As is true for most programs in the DoD, however, less bureaucracy and more transparency would be welcome improvements. In the area of long-term basic research planning and strategies, the task force investigated four topic areas, making recommendations for actions in each of them: • A more concerted enort is needed to ensure that the U.S. scientific human resources needed by the Department for global military competition will be available, and not assume that it will be so without such determined effort. • An increasing fraction of the world's basic research is being- conducted outside the United States- as part of a larger trend toward the globalization of science. In order to avoid technological surprise, it is important for DoD to be involved in the cutting edge of basic research on topics of specific interest to the Department-whether the cutting edge is in the U.S. or overseas. • A technology strategy is needed that contains objectives expressed with clarity, quantification, priority, and timing. A genuine technology strategy would not only be invaluable in alignment of basic research, but also in alignment of systems, missions, and national security affairs more broadl y. • While basic research was not identified as a barrier to a healthy innovation ecology in 000, several factors related to the current defense acquisition system were found to limit innovation in major 000 systems. 000 can dominate the world's military organizations in being able to use basic research results to create new and enhanced military capabilities, by dint of financial resources, infrastructure, and national culture. The task force offers their recommendations that will ensure this continues for decades to come. For these reasons, I endorse all of the study'S recommendations and encourage you to adopt them into the operations of the Office of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. <7~A ~,.~~,,,Jt · Dr. Paul Kaminski Chairman OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 3140 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC 20301-3140 DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN, DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD SUBJECT: FINAL REPORT OF THE DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD TASK FORCE ON BASIC RESEARCH The Department of Defense funds basic research in a wide variety of scientific and engineering fields with a goal of exploiting new knowledge to enhance-and where possible, transform-future capabilities. DoD-funded research is known for high- risk endeavors that have led to paradigm shifts in the nation's technical capabilities. The task force took on the task to both validate the quality of the existing 000 basic research program and to provide advice on long-term basic research planning and strategies. Overall, the task force found the current 000 basic research program to be a very good one, comparable to other basic research programs in the government and well-suited to 000 needs. The managers are highly qualified, reviews are plentiful, and coordination is excellent. As is true for most programs in the 000, however, less bureaucracy and more transparency would be welcome improvements. In the area of long-tenn basic research plarll1ing and strategies, the task force investigated four topic areas, making recommendations for actions in each of them: • A more concerted effort is needed to ensure that the U.S. scientific human resources needed by the Department for global military competition will be available, and not assume that it will be so without such determined effort. • An increasing fraction of the world's basic research is being conducted outside the United States as part of a larger trend toward the globalization of science. In order to avoid technological surprise, it is important for 000 to be involved in the cutting edge of basic research on topics of specifi c interest to the Department- whether the cutting edge is in the U.S. or overseas. • A technology strategy is needed that contains objectives expressed with clarity, quantification, priority, and timing. A genuine technology strategy would not only be invaluable in alignment of basic research, but also in alignment of systems, missions, and national security affairs more broadly. • While basic research was not identified as a ban·ier to a healthy innovation ecology in 000, several factors related to the current defense acquisition system were found to limit innovation in major 000 systems . Taken together, the issues addressed in the study point to the important role of basic research in the continuing success of the DoD mission. DoD dominates the world's military organizations in being able to use basic research results to create new and enhanced military capabilities, by dint of fmancial resources, infrastructure, and national culture. The task force offers their recommendations that will ensure this trend continues for decades to come. Dr Craig Fields Dr Lydia Thomas Co-Chair Co-Chair TABLE OF CONTENTS I v Table of Contents . S .. E xecunve ummary .•...••.•••.••...•.•••........•..••......••..•...•••..••.....•.•..•..•....•.••....•.•....••• VII Introduction ........••...........................•...................................................•.•.•..•.•••...•.. 1 Part I. The Current DOD Basic Research Program Chapter 1. Overview of Defense Basic Research ............................................ 7 Rationale for DOD Investtnent in Basic Research ..................................................................................... 8 Defense Basic Research Funding and Trends ............................................................................................ 12 Basic Research Organizations ......................................................................................................................... 15 Previous Assessments of Defense Basic Research ................................................................................... 20 Chapter 2. Assessment of the Current DOD Basic Research Program ... 25 Ensuring Quality of Basic Research Projects, Programs, and People ................................................ 25 Coordinating Among DC)D Basic Research Programs .......................................................................... 29 Coordinating Among Federal Basic Research Programs ........................................................................ 30 Efficiency of DOD Funding ........................................................................................................................... 31 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ 36 Part II. Human Resources and Globalization of Science Chapter 3. Human Resources ........................................................................... 39 People are Key for Creating and Preventing Surprise ............................................................................. 39 Inspiring Excellent Researchers to Address DOD Problems ............................................................... 42 Strengthening the Technical Talent of U.S. Citizens ............................................................................... 46 DOD Laboratory Personnel ............................................................................................................................ 50 i\-Ianaging the Basic Research Portfolio........................................................................................................ 53 Chapter 4. Globalization of Basic Research .................................................. 56 Implications for the Departtnent of Defense ............................................................................................