Applied research is generally characterized by three features:

• applied research is problem-oriented rather than aimed at the development or verification of new knowledge;
• applied research is usually focused on innovation (new approaches to problems) and therefore often addresses the relative performance of alternative designs, approaches, or formulations; and
• applied research is intended to enable prototyping, product development, demonstration and deployment/use (this is most apparent in comparison to basic research that can have the development of new knowledge or understanding as a primary end point).