Benchmarking - not an exact science
Benchmarking may throw up as many questions as it answers was one of the main messages at 'The contribution of socio-economic research to the benchmarking of RTD policies in Europe,' on 15 March. The event was organised by the European Commission's DG Research. Jean Francois Marchipont, Director and head of unit in DG Research who chaired the conference's opening plenary session, claimed that the use of benchmarking could be a major factor in helping to structure the next Framework programme and the proposed European Research Area (ERA). It could form one of the central means of providing coordination between the Member States. The definition that was used for benchmarking was a 'continuous systemic process for comparing performance, organisations, functions, processes or economies, policies or sectors against the best in the world'. Mr Marchipont added that the conclusions from the conference could have an influence on the way benchmarking took place. To this end, working groups have already been established to look into the issue. He added that he had seen the benefits of benchmarking in the employment sector, but this must now be applied to the research sector. But some of those attending pointed out that benchmarking is not the only means of providing coordination. 'Benchmarking is just one of several tools to support the open method of coordination,' said Bengt Ake Lundvall. Professor at Aalborg university in Denmark. He suggested that mobility of researchers between European countries, mobility of Commission staff, inter-directorate working parties and evaluation, technological forecasting and system analysis could all be tools of coordination that provide an alternative to benchmarking. The use of the facts and figures in benchmarking was another area that came under the spotlight. A UK representative at the event, Keith Smith, highlighted that some statistics have been designed for other uses and can then be used in a way that wasn't planned when collated for benchmarking. isky acti
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