This book argues that the standard categories of research as "basic" or "applied" have become a hindrance to the actual practice of research. The historical understanding of the basic vs. applied dichotomy is contrasted with the perspectives and lived experiences of researchers in various institutions. Using Nobel Prize-winning work as examples, the book explores the daily micro-practices of research and shows how the distinction of "basic" and "applied" quickly loses salience when one pays attention to the actual practice of research. The book offers an alternative view of the research process that sees the processes of discovery and invention as two sides of the same coin. By considering research as an integrative process that can lead to inventions and/or discoveries, this book provides a new model for understanding the practice of research.-- Provided by publisher

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Breaking barriers, building bridges -- Boundaries in science and engineering research -- The basic/applied dichotomy: the inadequacy of the linear model -- The origins of the "basic" and "applied" descriptors -- The discovery-invention cycle -- Bell Labs and the importance of institutional culture -- Designing radically innovative research institutions -- The need for a radical reformulation of S&T policy -- Moving forward in science and technology policy.

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