Fields of Research and Development classification (FORD)
Basic Bibliographic Information
Status:
Operational
Type:
To Be Determined
Citation:
OECD (2015), Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development, Chapter 3, The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities, OECD Publishing, Paris.
ISBN:
978-92-6423880-0
Website:
Custodian:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Available Formats:
Print, PDF
Year Adopted:
2015
Year Published:
2015
Available Languages (besides English):
Availability:
Fully available in all of the languages above
Purpose of the Classification
Statistical Domains (in CSA 2.0):
206 Science, technology and innovation
Purpose:
Distribute R&D expenditure and personnel by fields of enquiry, namely, broad knowledge domains based primarily on the content of the R&D subject matter.
Main Applications:
Used for collecting and reporting data on R&D
Main Users:
Statisticians, economists, analysts and policy makers in the area of R&D, science, technology and innovation
Methodology
Scope:
R&D units and resources in terms of expenditure and personnel
Concept Being Classified:
economic activities, research
Statistical Units:
R&D transaction
Main Principles:
The classification follows primarily a content approach. Where the content of the R&D subject matter is closely related, subjects are grouped together to form the broad (one-digit) and narrower (two-digit) fields of the classification.
Classification Structure
Definition of Structure:
Level:
Level Name:
Code Format:
Number of Items:
Level 1
Broad field
1.
6 items
Level 2
Sub-field
1.1
42 items
Criteria for Definition of Levels:
Keep broad fields consistent overtime while allow for changes at the sub-field level to include emerging knowledge fields
Revision Information
Chronology of revisions/versions of the classification:
Year Adopted:
Title or Version Number:
Website:
Official Adopting Entity:
OECD Committee for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) and OECD Committee for Statistics and Statistical Policy (CSSP)
Coordinating Entity:
The OECD Working Party of National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators (NESTI), which is under the CSTP
Reason for Latest Revision:
This was more of an update than a revision with the inclusion of the 'arts' with the humanities and a re-naming of the classification
Major Changes:
See above. The most important revision was the one in 2006 with in particular the introduction of new fields (bio-technology and nano-technology) in the engineering and technology field as well as the more systematic inclusion of 'other' categories
Corrections:
To some extent (see also 6b below)
Supporting Documents
Coding Index Available:
No
Training Materials and Other Documents:
N/A
Contact Information
Agency / Office:
OECD
Unit:
STI/EAS
Contact Name:
Fernando Galindo-Rueda
Email:
Website:
Telephone:
+331 4524 8749
Fax:
+331 4524 6258
Address:
2 rue André Pascal
75016 Paris
France
Comments
Additional identifiers:
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264239012-en
ISBN 978-92-6423880-0 (print)
ISBN 978-926423901-2 (PDF)
The revision website is a community space which is accesible for NESTI delegates only: https://community.oecd.org/community/frascati-review (not open to external public)