Conference
Research centers in transition: patterns of convergence and diversity

Luis Sanz-Menéndez (CSIC, Institute of Public Goods and Policies – IPP, Madrid)

March 20th, 2009, 14:30, School of Economics, University of Coimbra

In the context of the Doctoral Programme "Governance, Knowledge and Innovation"

 
Abstract
Institutional theory suggests that organizations pursue efficiency and legitimacy by conforming to isomorphic pressures in their organizational field, which would conduce, over time, to a reduction of diversity in organizational practices and strategies. Based on funding micro data and qualitative information, this study undertakes a center level analysis of changes in public and private nonprofit research centers over time, in response to evolving policy models, to the emergence of new models of research centers, and to increasing competition in the field. Albeit with some internal heterogeneity, we find that centers have progressively conformed to a funding strategy based on the diversification of sources and increasing public/private balance. We do not find such a degree of convergence as regards structural attributes such as research planning and agenda setting.

Biographical note
Luis Sanz Menéndez is the Director of the Institute of Public Goods and Policies of CSIC, Madrid. He is also, since 2007, President of the Committee on Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) of the OECD, in representation of Spain. He was Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology of the Complutense University of Madrid, and Visiting Professor in several research centres and post-graduate programmes, including at the University of California at Berkeley. He has published widely on research systems and science, technology and innovation policies, in international journals and books, and he is the author of a reference book on Spanish science and technology policies (Estado, Ciencia y Tecnologia en España (1939-1997), Alianza Universidad, Madrid, 1997). He has taken responsibilities within the public administration, in the field of science and technology policy, and was a member of the Council of EASST (European Association for the Study of Science and Technology), and of the Executive Committee of the European Network of Excellence PRIME (Policies for Research and Innovation in the Move towards the ERA), and has advised several public agencies and international organisations, namely in Europe and Latin America.

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