>> Karen Parker, editor-in-chief
FROM THE EDITOR
Susan Sutton served as Editor-in-Chief, Integrated Media, of ASI magazine for many years. If you wish to send a letter to the editor, please contact Tom Fowler at fowlert@bnpmedia.com. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.
Science at Work: From the Lab to Real-World Solutions
In January, Nature published an article that drew widespread attention. It provided an overview of U.S. science funding over the past year, reporting that more than 7,800 research grants were terminated or frozen in 2025, and over 25,000 scientists and research personnel left during the same period. The number of new grants issued by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health also declined, dropping roughly 25% compared to the ten-year average.
Reading this article prompted me to consider how research and development (R&D) funding has evolved over the past century. A study released last July by the National Science Board found that overall R&D spending—by both the private sector and government—has grown slowly but steadily, keeping pace with historic trends. In 2023, private companies funded 75% of total R&D performed across all sectors, compared with 18% funded by the federal government. However, when it comes to basic research, the federal government funded 41%, while businesses provided 35%. Since the 1950s, business and federal government spending has accounted for more than 90% of total R&D in the United States.
Innovation fueled by R&D has long been a key driver of productivity and economic growth. Corporate research laboratories began to play a major role in U.S. manufacturing during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The chemicals and electrical industries led the way, with companies such as General Electric, DuPont, Corning, Dow, and Eastman Kodak establishing corporate R&D labs in the first decade of the 1900s. These labs aimed not only to protect market share from competitors with more advanced technologies but also to drive broader business transformations. For example, the invention of nylon helped DuPont transition from an explosives manufacturer to a major chemicals company.
The emphasis on corporate R&D intensified in the 1980s, when private industry R&D spending equaled federal spending for the first time—a trend that continues today. In 2022, most U.S. R&D was carried out by select manufacturing and service industries, with the majority funded internally, though external funding varied by sector. Businesses with 10 or more domestic employees spent $691.5 billion on R&D, 54% of which came from the manufacturing sector. Five industries accounted for 80% of this total: information (including software publishing) 26%, chemicals (including pharmaceuticals) 18%, computer and electronic products (including semiconductors) 15%, professional, scientific, and technical services 11%, and transportation equipment (including vehicles and aerospace) 10%.
Scientific research remains a critical driver of the economy and is also central to the adhesives and sealants industry. In this month’s issue, we feature an article from Univar that highlights dynamic changes in adhesives and sealants and the ways raw material suppliers and distributors are helping to meet evolving needs—showing where science intersects with application. Another article from medmix showcases a cartridge system made from recycled plastics, demonstrating R&D addressing manufacturing challenges. Additionally, this issue presents a case study on polyurethane encapsulation technology and how it helped overcome design challenges for an underwater transmitter.
I hope you enjoy this issue of ASI. As always, I welcome your questions and comments at parkerk@bnpmedia.com.