Engineering Associated with Research and Development

Abstract

It is found, at the beginning of the civilisation, technology was developed without science. In later stages technology followed science . At present both run parallely. Though engineering plays a role in basic research , it is more dominant in applied research.Research normally becomes more fruitful when its results are translated to the benefit of the society through technology development and transfer. The R&D starts with conception of an innovative idea and followed by evaluation, accomplishment, development and culminatein release. The R&D scientist see their ideas to reality through three distinct parties - management, customer and engineering. The engineering aspects of R&D can be generalised through four phases viz., planing and specification, design, process/prototype and release. Earlier it was thought it is better not to control R&D. When competitiveness increased,control became necessary. Attempt is made to enumerate the role of engineering in R &D in nutshell in this paper. It is also demonstrated that effective innovation management synergising, the efforts of engineering and R&D teams can enhance the quality of collaborative R&D and promotes cutting edge over competition from multinationals. This would also ensure greater confidence and faith in the domestic industry towards indigenous stand-alone R&D institutions.