R&D - Research & Development World

NASA has big news this week: the agency has eliminated its Chief Scientist position and closed several key offices, including its policy strategy team and DEIA branch. This is more than an internal reshuffle. The Chief Scientist role has historically shaped NASA’s direction in climate research, planetary science, and long-term mission planning. Its removal — and the closure of the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy — raises important questions about how scientific insight will be integrated into NASA’s future decision-making. As someone who covers R&D, I can’t help but reflect on how vital structured, science-based leadership is to any high-stakes technical organization. The idea of stepping back from that — especially in such a critical decade for space exploration and climate response — is… well, concerning. Curious to hear what others think: ?? How do we ensure scientific integrity stays front and center when policy and leadership structures change? The article is in the comments. (Sources via Reuters, The Guardian, and Science) #NASA #ScienceLeadership #R&D #SpacePolicy #ScientificIntegrity #STEM #ResearchMatters

Formula 1 isn't just a showcase for motor muscle. The sport is also a sort of proving ground for R&D technologies. In this exploration, we highlight how technologies developed in F1, from aerodynamic efficiency (ground effect downforce and drag reduction systems) to advanced hybrid power units and lightweight composite materials, offer lessons for R&D teams across multiple industries. Link in the comments. #Formula1 #Innovation #Engineering #Technology

Had the pleasure of learning about lab automation at NVIDIA GTC's healthcare and life science pavilion, catching up with Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.' GM and VP Will Serber at NVIDIA's GTC to see their "LEGO-like" lab automation system in action. These Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) are creating structured data for AI analysis while human scientists focus on bigger questions. Think of how AI is helping streamline coding. A similar trend could come to the lab where humans focus more on the overall structure of the task (here, an experiment). Oh, and the RACs can snap together similar to LEGOs. It is a bit slower than pressing two blocks together but not by much — only taking about 10 minutes.

??? How F1 R&D is Powering Cross-Industry Breakthroughs ????? Sunday’s Formula 1? Australian Grand Prix opened the 2025 Formula 1 season with chaos, crashes, and a stunning win from McLaren Racing's Lando Norris. If you caught the action in Melbourne, have already binged Season 7 of Drive to Survive, and are currently trying to process how weird it is to see Lewis Hamilton in Scuderia Ferrari red, you probably already know the science behind the sport is evolving just as fast as the driver lineup during silly season. From 3D-printed titanium parts to AI-optimized aerodynamics, Formula 1 R&D is shaping the future of innovation across a number of industries. R&D - Research & Development World's Brian K. Buntz takes a look at some of the engineering fueling Formula 1 and how it offers R&D professionals in other sectors a vision of potential technological advances. #F1 #DriveToSurvive #Innovation

Our Editor in Chief Brian K. Buntz at #GTC2025 and will be checking out some of these #lifescience innovations. Say hi to him if you see him around!

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique widely used in catalysis research to identify chemical compounds and monitor reaction mechanisms. Our upcoming webinar, sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific, aims to provide an understanding of how FTIR spectroscopy can be applied to study catalytic processes. Attendees will learn: ?? The fundamental principles of FTIR spectroscopy. ?? Practical aspects of experimental setup and available configurations. ?? Recent advancements in the field. Join us LIVE if you're a researcher, scientist, or professional engaged in catalysis and looking to enhance their analytical capabilities with FTIR spectroscopy. ?? https://lnkd.in/g7bPjJtC

Intel Corporation has a new leader. Here's what to expect: Increased accountability and a performance culture that is rigorously measured and rewarded. Think metrics, clear goals, and consequences for not meeting them. Empowering engineers and fostering innovation. This is key to breaking free from incrementalism. Streamlining operations. Intel had a big slimdown last year. Expect more cutting of red tape, speeding up decision-making processes, and making Intel more agile and responsive. Fabless-like elements): Tan will likely strategically thinking about which parts of the vertical integration model still make sense and where a more flexible, "fabless-like" approach could bolster improve efficiency. Stronger customer focus and ecosystem engagement. Ruthless prioritization):?Intel can't be everything to everyone. Tan will likely need to define very clear strategic priorities, and then allocate resources to those areas, Given his VC background (think, big ideas and clear priorities — product-market fit), Tan could make big decisions about product lines, research areas, etc. to better focus Intel on ROI and growth.

One of the highlights for me at Pittcon Conference + Exposition was popping over to the LabVantage Solutions, Inc booth to hear about their approach to rethinking lab software. Instead of having experimental data on, say, isolated labtops or hidden in one colleague's cloud drive, LabVantage is using semantic search to help connect the dots of disparate data sources. That is, you talk to your data, and your data talks back, as Denise Bell MT(ASCP) and Alan Marcus of the company shared during the visit. Article link in the comments: #LabInnovation #DataScience #ScientificResearch

?? Call for Nominations! The R&D 100 Awards recognize new commercial products, technologies, and materials for their technological significance. Open to corporate, government, and academic R&D organizations worldwide. Learn more and submit your entry today: https://lnkd.in/enkp-i3N #RD100 #ScienceAndTechnology #RandD

Is the U.S. likely to curb R&D spending in the coming years on the heels of cuts to science, especially federally? A Monte Carlo simulation predicts a base case of resilience with R&D spend holding pretty steady from 2025 to 2026. Note - this is a draft model. I plan on making another soon after doing some more research on the domestic R&D landscape and the impact of certain recent government changes. The underlying data (for up to 2023) is from official sources (IMF, WorldBank with initial projections for 2024 based on ARIMA) and some custom adjustments for 2025 on based on recent trends. Some of these factors are dynamic and hard to model. The CHIPS Act, for instance, may not be long for the world.