A review is given of the "Multiple Sample Concept" (MSC), developed at RCA Laboratories in the 1970s, that has led to a rapid increase in the development of new materials and devices. MSC consists of synthesis, analysis, testing, and evaluation of entire multi-component systems. Examples are given of the use of MSC in developing new materials and devices for a variety of electronic applications. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.