Computer-assisted analyses of very large bibliographic online databases yield condensed information on the target areas, sizes and changes of  worldwide activities in research and development (R&D).
That kind of information can support effectively the decision-making whether research and development activities should be commenced, intensified, modified or terminated.

The target groups of this information are persons and committees which are responsible for the management of research and development work in the different areas of the society and at the various management levels. It is also task of these persons or committees to place the orders for the required data base analyses.

This paper presents some results of database analyses performed at Potsdam University in 1993-1994 on a variety of topical research subjects.

In addition to bibliographic databases, patent databases are another important source of  information for the above-mentioned purposes /1/. On reason of the special features of patent data bases the questions of her analysis aren't examined in this text.