Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles) ISSN (Print) 0302-3427 - ISSN (Online) 1471-5430 Published by Oxford University Press[419 journals]
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Authors:Jiang Z; Wang Z, Feng C, et al. Pages: 347 - 364 Abstract: AbstractThis study explores how local political turnover affects corporate R&D investment and innovation performance in an emerging economy like China. Based on the panel data of 956 listed firms in China, we found that local officials’ turnover has a direct negative effect on both R&D investment leap and corporate innovation performance. Furthermore, local officials’ turnover inhibits innovation performance provided the new officials are transferred from other places but improves innovation performance provided the old officials are dismissed for corruption or other violations. Finally, R&D investment leap positively moderate the relationship between local officials’ turnover and corporate innovation performance. These findings contribute to the literature on how political uncertainty at the regional level affects R&D and innovation activities at the firm level and provide significant guidance for both the government and manufacturers in China. PubDate: Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab090 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2022)
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Authors:Parker R; Lundgren P. Pages: 159 - 167 Abstract: AbstractThe entrepreneurial and innovative activities that universities perform in addition to teaching and research have been aligned to an Innovation Systems Policy framework, which has been the dominant paradigm of innovation policy for several decades. However, Innovation Policy is being reframed in response to the growing recognition that inequality, poverty, climate change, and environmental challenges persist and are deepening despite substantial public investment in science and technology and the growth of university outreach activities associated with the entrepreneurial Third Mission vision. This paper outlines an alternative Transformative Innovation Policy agenda that unpacks the role of Universities in social change. This conceptual framework is operationalised through a description of the research practices that would underpin a Transformative Innovation Policy mission for Universities in addressing major social changes associated with obesity, decarbonisation of transport, ocean plastics, and pandemics. PubDate: Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab070 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Woodson T; Boutilier S. Pages: 168 - 178 Abstract: AbstractBroader impacts (BI) policies generate debate on the purpose of science, measuring the impact of research, and is an important topic for the science policy community. However, BI policies often fail to determine if R&D funding helps marginalized communities. This paper introduces a new framework, the Inclusion-Immediacy Criterion, that assesses who benefits from research impacts as divided into three groups: (1) advantaged groups; (2) the general population; and (3) marginalized groups. The study analyzes National Science Foundation (NSF) project outcome reports and finds that advantaged groups are the most likely to benefit from NSF-funded research. The study also shows that certain areas of NSF research, such as Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, more efficiently generate impacts for marginalized groups compared to other directorates. This paper further argues that persistent inequalities in BIs limit the potential of R&D to increase prosperity and well-being, two of NSF’s mandated goals. PubDate: Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab072 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Arman H; Iammarino S, Ibarra-Olivo J, et al. Pages: 179 - 190 Abstract: AbstractThe relationship between research and development (R&D) investment and economic development is well established. Yet, at a global scale, the resource-rich countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are consistent outliers in this relationship, combining rich-world national incomes with R&D expenditure of developing countries. This paper uses a case study on Kuwait to illustrate a particular form of developmental trap, a version of the resource curse, which makes it irrational for private business firms to invest in R&D and innovation. Based on an analysis of the literature and secondary data, focus groups, and an original survey of large manufacturing firms, we argue that a narrow focus on R&D-led diversification of economic activity ignores the systemic problems faced by Kuwait and, particularly, the unsuitable supply of skills and capabilities provided by the national education and training system. PubDate: Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab073 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Flink T. Pages: 191 - 200 Abstract: AbstractScience diplomacy has caught remarkable attention in public policy and academic research over the last fifteen years. However, the concept is plagued by a huge talk–action discrepancy: its public discourse has reached a problematic state of dazzling self-adulation, while it is unclear if and how the actual policies and associated organizations live up to these expectations. The article reconstructs three structural causes to explain the recent hype about science diplomacy. It further encourages actors to organize evaluations that ask whether and how actions of science diplomacy can be valuable. In this regard, a first set of fundamental principles is proposed for setting up an evaluative framework. In conclusion, the article advises science diplomacy actors from democratic states and institutions, from both academic research and public policy, to stop dreaming about soft power influence on authoritarian states and regimes but rather face new geopolitical realities. PubDate: Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab074 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Atta-Owusu K; Fitjar R. Pages: 201 - 218 Abstract: AbstractAcademics have different motivations for external engagement, including to acquire external resources for research (research advancement motivation), to contribute to society (prosocial motivation), or to acquire monetary benefits (pecuniary motivation). Universities also have varying policies for rewarding external engagement. This paper examines the relationship between academics’ motivations for engaging, their perceptions of the fairness of their universities’ policies, and their actual level of external engagement. Most academics consider contributing to the betterment of society as the most important reason for engagement, followed by the advancement of their research. Conversely, few academics consider obtaining personal income to be important. The perceived importance of all three motivations is positively associated with actual engagement behavior. Notably, the strength of research advancement motivation is more closely associated with external engagement than the strength of pecuniary motivation. However, perceptions of organizational fairness are not related to external engagement. PubDate: Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab075 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Rudek T. Pages: 219 - 245 Abstract: While the need and general direction of the energy transition are widely accepted, the implementation has different dynamics throughout the world. Sociotechnical imaginaries concept, bridging the science, policy, and society, seems promising in understanding and explaining the global differences. The present paper analyses 135 abstracts that contain the topic keywords, sociotechnical imaginaries, published in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals during the last 11 years. Further on, the author conducted a qualitative and quantitative analysis of 43 energy-related articles to offer a panoramic overview of sociotechnical imaginaries in energy research out of the more extensive background. The paper aims to present a critical overview of the concept usage in energy studies to identify incoherences and blind spots in concept usage. What is more, this research intents to show the promising direction of using sociotechnical imaginaries. It also proposes new operationalisation and theoretical frame as well as potentially contributes to policymaking. PubDate: Tue, 16 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab076 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Labib K; Evans N, Roje R, et al. Pages: 246 - 266 Abstract: AbstractEducation is important for fostering research integrity (RI). Although RI training is increasingly provided, there is little knowledge on how research stakeholders view institutional RI education and training policies. Following a constructivist approach, we present insights about research stakeholders’ views and experiences regarding how research institutions can develop and implement RI education and training policies. We conducted thirty focus groups, engaging 147 participants in eight European countries. Using a mixed deductive-inductive thematic analysis, we identified five themes: (1) RI education should be available to all; (2) education and training approaches and goals should be tailored; (3) motivating trainees is essential; (4) both formal and informal educational formats are necessary; and (5) institutions should take into account various individual, institutional, and system-of-science factors when implementing RI education. Our findings suggest that institutions should make RI education attractive for all and tailor training to disciplinary-specific contexts. PubDate: Thu, 25 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab077 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Nishimura J; Nagaoka S, Akaike S, et al. Pages: 268 - 288 Abstract: AbstractThis paper examines the making of university and industry research collaboration from the perspective of matching theory. Our analysis, based on an original survey in Japan, aims at identifying the mechanism of matching. The major findings are as follows. There is significant evidence for positive assortative matching at the project level: a researcher with better seeds or better needs gives a higher value to the partner’s research capability and the goodness-of-fit between the project and the partner’s capability in selecting its partner. The projects with the partners selected for research capability and goodness-of-fit are associated with high university and industry research collaboration performance. Furthermore, own contact is most used for positive assortative matching. These results indicate the importance of deep field knowledge and tacit knowledge of the researcher in the search process. These findings suggest that technology transfer policy would need to pay significant attention to the contribution of the decentralized matching process. PubDate: Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab079 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Ma L; Agnew R. Pages: 289 - 301 Abstract: AbstractImpact assessments in grant applications can be biased, random, or inconsistent. One reason is that there is not a framework to assist the review process. To develop fair and transparent evaluative criteria, it is necessary to understand what kinds of outcome and impact can reasonably be achieved and expected. Using content analysis, 100 UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 impact case studies were analysed based on the definition of the output, outcome, and impact in the logic model. The analysis shows that (1) outcomes and medium-term impacts, not long-term impacts, are reported in the case studies, (2) impacts can be categorised as use and experience based, and (3) there is a need to recognise the creation and co-creation of impacts. A framework for impact evaluation in grant applications has been developed. In this framework, the criteria for evaluating impact statements focus on process-oriented impacts and that ‘impacts’ can be outputs, outcomes, and medium-term impacts. PubDate: Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab080 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Mejdalani A; Gonçalves E. Pages: 302 - 312 Abstract: AbstractThis paper uses a unique database that combines Brazilian patent data and personal microdata on formal employees from 2000 to 2011 to study the effect of inventor’s individual attributes on the propensity to cooperate. Our main contributions derive from (1) using a dominance coefficient decomposition to examine each individual’s returns based on the non-explicit hierarchy of the link and (2) finding what attributes inventors take into consideration when seeking working partnerships. The main results reveal that inventors tend to collaborate with others with similar educational background and centrality level, and there is a great likelihood of connectivity if educational and centrality levels are high. The dominance coefficient decomposition revealed that a type of social hierarchy emerges in the network. PubDate: Thu, 25 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab081 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Drummond Otten C; Fischhoff B. Pages: 313 - 323 Abstract: AbstractThe US National Science Foundation (NSF) must demonstrate the value of the research that it funds. To that end, NSF has developed two criteria for its funding decisions: intellectual merit (IM), the potential to advance knowledge, and broader impacts (BI), the potential to benefit society. Critics have argued that these criteria are insufficient, including former Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), who offered his own criteria delineating specific desired impacts, such as economic competitiveness. We empirically assess this criticism by comparing public ratings of NSF-funded projects, based on their Project Outcomes Report (POR), using NSF’s and Smith’s criteria. Participants rated NSF-funded research as satisfying both NSF’s and Smith’s criteria, which were moderately correlated. Adding explicit references to societal BI improved ratings slightly. Noting NSF support did not. Our results suggest that having PORs explicitly address additional criteria could increase perceived BI without compromising IM. PubDate: Tue, 14 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab082 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)
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Authors:Scordato L; Bugge M, Hansen T, et al. Pages: 324 - 346 Abstract: AbstractThis article explores whether and how innovation policies promote transitions to more sustainable configurations in socio-technical systems. Empirically it departs from an analysis of the bioeconomy policy strategies and instruments in four Nordic countries. The analysis highlights that while a transformative approach is present at the policy strategy level in the Nordic countries, the bioeconomy policy instruments implemented are significantly less transformative. The article argues that a bioeconomy transition that contributes to sustainable development will require a redirection of policies towards transformative failures (directionality, policy coordination, demand articulation, and reflexivity). In this regard, it is important that policymakers experiment with and explore ways of balancing between traditional market and innovation system approaches and new policy approaches for transformative change. PubDate: Tue, 30 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scab083 Issue No:Vol. 49, No. 2 (2021)