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ACADEMIC R&D EXPENDITURES 61 TOTAL ACADEMIC R&D: ESTIMATED COST COMPONENTS For the past three decades, personnel costs have accounted for about 45 percent of total costs related to the conduct of academic research, with 40 percent supporting senior personnel and 5 percent supporting graduate students. Other direct costs have fluctuated between 15 percent and 20 percent. The indirect-cost share doubled from 15 percent in the 1950s to nearly 30 percent in 1980, where it has steadied. The combined share for equipment and facilities declined from over 20 percent through the 1960s to 10 percent in the 1970s; it has since increased to 15 percent. Figure 2-43: Estimated Cost Components of U.S. Academic R&D Budget Figure 2-44: Distribution of Estimated Cost Components of U.S. Academic R&D Budgets NOTE: Data series within the figures are not overlapped; top line represents total. Financial data are expressed in 1988 constant dollars to reflect real long-term growth trends. DEFINITION OF TERMS: Estimated personnel costs for Senior Scientists and Graduate Students include salaries and fringe benefits, such as insurance and retirement contributions. Other Direct costs include such budget items as materials and supplies, travel, subcontractors, computer services, publications, consultants, and participant support costs. Indirect costs include general administration, department administration, building operation and maintenance, depreciation and use, sponsored-research projects administration, libraries, and student-services administration. Equipment costs include (1) reported expenditures of separately budgeted current-funds for the purchase of research equipment, and (2) estimated capital expenditures for fixed or built-in research equipment. Facilities costs include estimated capital expenditures for research facilities, including facilities constructed to house scientific apparatus. SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Policy Research and Analysis. Database: CASPAR. Some of the data within this database are estimates, incorporated where there are discontinuities within data series or gaps in data collection. Primary data sources: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resource Studies; Survey of Scientific and Engineering Expenditures at Universities and Colleges: National Institutes of Health; American Association of University Professors; National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.