But wait, I also recall what Russian physicist Alexander Kitaigorodsky^(a) wrote about newly established labs - and I started in one of them. Here it is, translated into English, from Fizika - moya professiya (Physics - my profession), Mir Publ., Moscow, 1971:

"A research unit may be in the making. It may lack a distinctiveness of its own. Such a state is completely legitimate for five to seven years. But if a laboratory continues to lack distinction a decade after its initiation, this is an indication that it is mediocre and doesn’t deserve to be rated as a unit at the scientific front. Such a laboratory may serve auxiliary purposes, if some other research group patronage it, using it for its own research projects."

Well, maybe, after all, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t (but should) look for the patronage. But that’s another story, like a parallel universe, you know.