4 FUNCTIONAL DISTRIBUTION

4.1.The approach

236.In the functional approach, the nature of the R&D activity of the performing unit, rather than its principal (economic) activity, is examined. The R&D resources of the performing unit are distributed to one or more functional classes on the basis of the characteristics of the R&D itself, usually examined at the project level but sometimes in even greater detail. The survey approaches described in this chapter are thus unique to the field of R&D statistics. Although in theory functional distribution is quite appropriate for personnel data, it is generally confined to R&D expenditure.

237.The standard nomenclature used in institutional classifications may also be used for functional distribution (e.g. field of science). However, much nomenclature is used only for functional distribution (e.g. type of R&D). In most cases, statistics on R&D distributed by function are already classified by institution. For example, R&D is almost always classified by sector and subsector prior to functional distribution. In fact, most functional distribution is not appropriate for all sectors (Table 4.1).

Table 4.1. Utility of functional distributions

Breakdown by		Business enterprise	Government	Private non-profit	Higher education
Type of R&D	Expenditure	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended
		for current	for current	for current	for current
		expenditure	expenditure	expenditure	expenditure
	Personnel	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
Product field	Expenditure	Recommended	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
		for current
		expenditure
	Personnel	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
Main field	Expenditure	Possible	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended
of science
	Personnel	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible
Socio-economic	Expenditure	Recommended	Recommended	Possible	Possible
objective		for selected
		objectives only
	Personnel	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely

Source: OECD.

76	FRASCATI MANUAL 2002 – ISBN 92-64-19903-9 – © OECD 2002