The Society was founded originally in 1962 as the London Group for the Study of the Administration of Research and Development (LGARD). After some time it was agreed that this title was too unwieldy and at the Annual General Meeting of LGARD in May 1964 the name was changed to The Research and Development Society. In 1971 the Society was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee not having a share capital.
Clive Jones published a history of the R&D Society in seven parts under the title “Some Reflections on 25 Years with the Society” in the Society’s Newsletter Nos.12-18 between September 1999 and April 2000. With Clive’s permission, these instalments are available as one narrative (pdf file), edited by David Budworth.