The work of OECD on science and technology (S&T) indicators started in the early 1960s, when the Frascati Manual (guidelines for the collection of R&D data) was first edited.The range of covered areas has broadened since, so as to include patents, human resources and innovation, and more recently international mobility of skilled workers and investment in knowledge.

The OECD elaborates guidelines for data collection, exemplified by the Frascati manual (currently under revision), the Oslo manual (on innovation surveys, with Eurostat) and the Canberra manual (on human resources in S&T, with Eurostat). Current methodological work addresses patent indicators.

S&T indicators from Member (and certain non-member) countries are compiled and published on a regular basis by the OECD. They include R&D expenditure and personnel with various break downs (by sector of performance: business by industry, government and universities; by source of funds, etc.), patents, investment in knowledge.

The OECD conducts quantitative studies on S&T policy and economic growth: recent examples include a study of the effect of various types of S&T policy instruments (grants, public research, tax incentives) on business R&D, and the impact of R&D (business, government, foreign spillovers) on productivity and economic growth.