Final Report Summary - ERID-WATCH (European Research Infrastructures Development Watch)
There is a visible trend of to shift an accent in different human activities, which happens in the period of last years in the world. The substantial influence on this process is due to the development of the communication and information techniques and technologies. It is permanently decreasing importance of the geographic distances in organisation of the activities and in structuralisation of the markets. Fortunately, the importance of communication and transport is constantly growing.
The changes in the political maps of regions and of the world are also significant and this circumstance represents another substantial reason in the expansion of global activities. Moreover, the global challenges faced the fields of human activity with the need of completely new studies. Within the up to now unprecedented requirements on transport, there is the claim of new resources of energy, limitations of the clean water resources, the health problems, especially with the epidemic diseases in different regions, the climate changes consequences or permanently strengthening terrorism. Each of these challenges of a global nature means a new area of solution and it means a new area of research.
In the force of such circumstances the question about the research results extent on a social progress in general and in different fields in particular comes as fully reasonable requirement. How it is possible to measure such impact? How it is possible to influence the behaviour of the participants using the results of such assessment? If one needs to find the most effective and fastest way to transfer the research results through applications to the innovative realisations prepared for the market competition, than the process must be comprehensively studied. It is clear, that the relation between research institution and the final user body is of substantial importance. This moment will be reflected into the methodology of assessment and will bring a marked difference with respect to the present research evaluative procedures.
The project ERID WATCH is one of first attempts of such an analysis. Apart from the fact that it deals with relatively limited section of research arrangements it can involve important contribution to the development of the assessing methods of research results impact in future.
The EU funded ERID watch project has, during 2007 and 2008, carried out two major studies of the efficiency and impact of European research infrastructures market. Two final reports have been produced; one a benchmarking study among some 50 of the approx 300+ medium and large size European research infrastructures, and a market study, including government authorities and industrial suppliers to the infrastructures.
The research infrastructures in Europe form a heterogeneous group, where differences sometimes seem greater than the similarities. The basis for statistically valid conclusions is limited, but many observations may be indicative in a qualitative context. Based on these findings, the ERID WATCH project team has presented a number of recommendations to funders, users, suppliers and naturally also to the research infrastructures themselves.
Research infrastructures play a major role for Europe's international position in the fields of research, technological development, and innovation. They have a significant effect on the economic and societal growth of Europe and the interaction and network between industry and research infrastructures may reflect an important potential market as well as opportunities for further development of products, services, and new technologies. Basically, research infrastructures' market of users is divided into two parts, the scientific market and the industrial market.
In a number of fields, the ERID WATCH project has identified a need and a potential for improvements. To some extent these are based on the actual diversity of the research infrastructures; more comparable data and standards would be most valuable and could present a significant contribution to the effectiveness of purchase, staff mobility and the development of new tools and instruments.
Thus, the ERID WATCH consortium partners propose the creation of a European information forum for research infrastructures. Basically, the forum can build on a web portal, a repository of key data concerning research infrastructures, and possibly also updated by professionals at the facilities. The information forum could then act as a 'market place between RIs and companies. With strong links to industry, not least the small and medium-sized companies, encouraging early involvement in projects, a portal would decrease the risk of technology show stoppers, late discoveries in complex scientific projects. It would also foster a strong networking among research infrastructures and industry.
This monitoring tool should be based on data from research infrastructures and should facilitate transfer of procurement information and technology opportunities from research infrastructures to industry, possibly in the form of a European information list to increase industry awareness. Finally, the formation of a European information forum for research infrastructures is well in line with the intentions and ambitions as expressed in policy documents such as the ERA green paper. It would not least be the perfect meeting-place for companies, facilities as well as national and international governing boards and authorities.
The complete ERID WATCH project, including all reports, can be found at http://www.eridwatch.eu(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). Furthermore, a handbook 'Findings and recommendations' was published in two editions, prior to the ERID WATCH final conference in Prague, October 2008, and prior to the ECRI2008 conference in Versailles in December 2008. A PDF version can be downloaded from the website; a printed version can be obtained from the project coordination office at CEA.
The changes in the political maps of regions and of the world are also significant and this circumstance represents another substantial reason in the expansion of global activities. Moreover, the global challenges faced the fields of human activity with the need of completely new studies. Within the up to now unprecedented requirements on transport, there is the claim of new resources of energy, limitations of the clean water resources, the health problems, especially with the epidemic diseases in different regions, the climate changes consequences or permanently strengthening terrorism. Each of these challenges of a global nature means a new area of solution and it means a new area of research.
In the force of such circumstances the question about the research results extent on a social progress in general and in different fields in particular comes as fully reasonable requirement. How it is possible to measure such impact? How it is possible to influence the behaviour of the participants using the results of such assessment? If one needs to find the most effective and fastest way to transfer the research results through applications to the innovative realisations prepared for the market competition, than the process must be comprehensively studied. It is clear, that the relation between research institution and the final user body is of substantial importance. This moment will be reflected into the methodology of assessment and will bring a marked difference with respect to the present research evaluative procedures.
The project ERID WATCH is one of first attempts of such an analysis. Apart from the fact that it deals with relatively limited section of research arrangements it can involve important contribution to the development of the assessing methods of research results impact in future.
The EU funded ERID watch project has, during 2007 and 2008, carried out two major studies of the efficiency and impact of European research infrastructures market. Two final reports have been produced; one a benchmarking study among some 50 of the approx 300+ medium and large size European research infrastructures, and a market study, including government authorities and industrial suppliers to the infrastructures.
The research infrastructures in Europe form a heterogeneous group, where differences sometimes seem greater than the similarities. The basis for statistically valid conclusions is limited, but many observations may be indicative in a qualitative context. Based on these findings, the ERID WATCH project team has presented a number of recommendations to funders, users, suppliers and naturally also to the research infrastructures themselves.
Research infrastructures play a major role for Europe's international position in the fields of research, technological development, and innovation. They have a significant effect on the economic and societal growth of Europe and the interaction and network between industry and research infrastructures may reflect an important potential market as well as opportunities for further development of products, services, and new technologies. Basically, research infrastructures' market of users is divided into two parts, the scientific market and the industrial market.
In a number of fields, the ERID WATCH project has identified a need and a potential for improvements. To some extent these are based on the actual diversity of the research infrastructures; more comparable data and standards would be most valuable and could present a significant contribution to the effectiveness of purchase, staff mobility and the development of new tools and instruments.
Thus, the ERID WATCH consortium partners propose the creation of a European information forum for research infrastructures. Basically, the forum can build on a web portal, a repository of key data concerning research infrastructures, and possibly also updated by professionals at the facilities. The information forum could then act as a 'market place between RIs and companies. With strong links to industry, not least the small and medium-sized companies, encouraging early involvement in projects, a portal would decrease the risk of technology show stoppers, late discoveries in complex scientific projects. It would also foster a strong networking among research infrastructures and industry.
This monitoring tool should be based on data from research infrastructures and should facilitate transfer of procurement information and technology opportunities from research infrastructures to industry, possibly in the form of a European information list to increase industry awareness. Finally, the formation of a European information forum for research infrastructures is well in line with the intentions and ambitions as expressed in policy documents such as the ERA green paper. It would not least be the perfect meeting-place for companies, facilities as well as national and international governing boards and authorities.
The complete ERID WATCH project, including all reports, can be found at http://www.eridwatch.eu(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). Furthermore, a handbook 'Findings and recommendations' was published in two editions, prior to the ERID WATCH final conference in Prague, October 2008, and prior to the ECRI2008 conference in Versailles in December 2008. A PDF version can be downloaded from the website; a printed version can be obtained from the project coordination office at CEA.
