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Use of accounting concepts to study research: return on investment in XSEDE, a US cyberinfrastructure service

Author

Listed:
  • Craig A. Stewart

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Indiana University)

  • Claudia M. Costa

    (Indiana University)

  • Julie A. Wernert

    (Indiana University)

  • Winona Snapp-Childs

    (Indiana University)

  • Marques Bland

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Philip Blood

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Terry Campbell

    (Indiana University)

  • Peter Couvares

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Jeremy Fischer

    (Indiana University)

  • David Y. Hancock

    (Indiana University)

  • David L. Hart

    (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

  • Harmony Jankowski

    (Indiana University)

  • Richard Knepper

    (Cornell University)

  • Donald F. McMullen

    (Indiana University)

  • Susan Mehringer

    (Cornell University)

  • Marlon Pierce

    (Indiana University)

  • Gary Rogers

    (University of Tennessee at Knoxville)

  • Robert S. Sinkovits

    (University of California San Diego)

  • John Towns

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

This paper uses accounting concepts—particularly the concept of Return on Investment (ROI)—to reveal the quantitative value of scientific research pertaining to a major US cyberinfrastructure project (XSEDE—the eXtreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment). XSEDE provides operational and support services for advanced information technology systems, cloud systems, and supercomputers supporting non-classified US research, with an average budget for XSEDE of US$20M+ per year over the period studied (2014–2021). To assess the financial effectiveness of these services, we calculated a proxy for ROI, and converted quantitative measures of XSEDE service delivery into financial values using costs for service from the US marketplace. We calculated two estimates of ROI: a Conservative Estimate, functioning as a lower bound and using publicly available data for a lower valuation of XSEDE services; and a Best Available Estimate, functioning as a more accurate estimate, but using some unpublished valuation data. Using the largest dataset assembled for analysis of ROI for a cyberinfrastructure project, we found a Conservative Estimate of ROI of 1.87, and a Best Available Estimate of ROI of 3.24. Through accounting methods, we show that XSEDE services offer excellent value to the US government, that the services offered uniquely by XSEDE (that is, not otherwise available for purchase) were the most valuable to the facilitation of US research activities, and that accounting-based concepts hold great value for understanding the mechanisms of scientific research generally.

Suggested Citation

  • Craig A. Stewart & Claudia M. Costa & Julie A. Wernert & Winona Snapp-Childs & Marques Bland & Philip Blood & Terry Campbell & Peter Couvares & Jeremy Fischer & David Y. Hancock & David L. Hart & Harm, 2023. "Use of accounting concepts to study research: return on investment in XSEDE, a US cyberinfrastructure service," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(6), pages 3225-3255, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:128:y:2023:i:6:d:10.1007_s11192-022-04539-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-022-04539-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richard Knepper & Katy Börner, 2016. "Comparing the Consumption of CPU Hours with Scientific Output for the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Amy Apon & Linh Ngo & Michael Payne & Paul Wilson, 2015. "Assessing the effect of high performance computing capabilities on academic research output," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 283-312, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    XSEDE; TeraGrid; Cyberinfrastructure; Supercomputing; HPC; eScience; Return on Investment; Cost efficiency; Cloud computing in research; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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