54171 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and experimental development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, such as agriculture, electronics, environmental, biology, botany, biotechnology, computers, chemistry, food, fisheries, forests, geology, health, mathematics, medicine, nanotechnology, oceanography, pharmacy, physics, veterinary, and other allied subjects.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Providing veterinary testing services are classified in Industry 54194, Veterinary Services.
• Providing medical laboratory testing for humans are classified in Industry 62151, Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories.
• Raising funds for health related research are classified in Industry 81321, Grantmaking and Giving Services.
• Providing physical, chemical, or other analytical testing services (except medical or veterinary), such as acoustics or vibration testing, calibration testing, electrical and electronic testing, geotechnical testing, mechanical testing, nondestructive testing, or thermal testing are classified in Industry 54138, Testing Laboratories and Services.
• Creating and developing industrial designs and specifications that optimize the use, value, and appearance of automobiles, furniture, and other products are classified in Industry 54142, Industrial Design Services.
• Manufacturing products (e.g., apparel, electronic equipment, automotive equipment) using nanomaterials are classified in Sector 31-33, Manufacturing, according to the process of the specific product made.
• Manufacturing vaccines, toxoids, blood fractions, and culture media of plant or animal origin (except diagnostic use) and/or uncompounded medicinal chemicals and their derivatives (i.e., enzyme proteins and antibiotics for pharmaceutical use) are classified in Industry 32541, Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing.
• Laboratory animal production (e.g., guinea pigs, mice, rats) are classified in Industry 11299, All Other Animal Production.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Codes in 54171

• 541713Research and Development in Nanotechnology
• 541714Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
• 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)