Presentation of a problem/project to future peers.
Honesty among peers. Misery loves company.
Research and development resources that are potentially available.
Diverse backgrounds of each member.
The research problems that are high risk. Working the entire process end to end.
Modernization and keeping up with the tech industry. Willing to take more risks to innovate.
More market competitive at total compensation. Better PTO to make up for monetary lag in salary.
Agility, and willingness to take risks. Move beyond the National Lab view if it wasn't built here. Quit reinventing and reselling the same wheel over and over again packaged as new research.