Sociotechnology: IEEE speaks out on R&D: In a key position paper addressed to President Ford, the Institute cited the ominous impact of declining R&D funding

At the April meeting of the IEEE Board of Directors, a historic action was taken: by a vote of 27 for and 1 against, the Institute's Board adopted an official IEEE position on Federal support of research and development. This position paper, entitled “Science, Technology, and America's Future,” calls on the United States Government to reverse what IEEE views as an ominous trend - the continuing decline of the real value of R&D funding in the U.S. - and, to correct this dangerous fall-off, the paper recommends specific actions by the Government to maintain R&D support at 3 percent of the gross national product.