Summary: In response to a congressional request, GAO analyzed studies and other relevant data to determine the causes and factors which influence the need for research equipment by universities. Universities conduct the major share of basic research. For about 20 years, U.S. scientists have claimed that instrumentation available to academic researchers was inadequate, due primarily to insufficient funding. In recent testimony, various leaders of the scientific community have estimated the cost of updating university research equipment to be between $1 billion and $4 billion. Studies of research equipment needs identify the following principal causes for the perceived shortage: (1) constant funding for basic research; (2) increased acquisition and maintenance costs for instrumentation; (3) inflexibility in the granting process; (4) financial disincentives contained in Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21; and (5) the apparently common practice of funding research staff in lieu of replacing aging research equipment. There are two kinds of obsolescence: physical and scientific. Physical obsolescence refers to an item that breaks down and is no longer worthy of repair. Scientific obsolescence can occur long before physical obsolescence or even before the instrument is no longer capable of generating data which contribute to published results. If a piece of equipment does not enhance a research effort by providing appropriate technological assistance, it is seen as scientifically obsolete. However, the same instrument may have years of useful life remaining for research performed by other scientists with different research objectives. There is a tremendous lack of information in this area. GAO believes that more information is needed to assist policymakers in assessing whether the need is diminishing or growing and in developing standards on what constitutes a normal level of research equipment needed.
