Basic and applied scientific research, innovation and economic development

Basic scientific research can be defined as fundamental, investigative research, theoretical or experimental, to advance knowledge without a specifically envisaged practical applications. It is the quest for new knowledge and the exploration of the unknown. Basic research is driven purely by curiosity and a desire to expand our knowledge. On the contrary, applied research is used to answer specific questions that have direct applications to the society. Basic and applied research is a continuum and they are inter-dependent. The demarcation between basic research and applied research is not at all clear cut. Most scientific research, whether in the academic world or in industry, is a hybrid leading to new knowledge generation and subsequent exploitation. The integration of basic and applied research is crucial to problem-solving, innovation and development of products and processes.