Engineering and automotive businesses—including OEMs, component suppliers, and design houses—frequently invest in product testing and tooling. However, many fail to document this research in a way that communicates the R&D process clearly to DSIR evaluators.
Identifying Automotive R&D
R&D in this sector includes designing lightweight structures, improving engine or battery efficiency, developing safety features, and designing custom transmission tools. Standard commercial assembly operations are excluded.
Structuring the Research Log
Design teams must be able to document the research process: Problem Identification → Design Hypothesis → CAD/Simulation → Prototype Assembly → Testing → Design Refinement. Keeping sequential testing sheets is critical for proving active research during a site audit.
