Presentation a Policy Model for Supporting the basic Research ; A Case Study of the Iranian National Science Foundation (INSF)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor at the Technology Studies Institute, Tehran, Iran

2 Researcher at the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Supporting the basic research or using the results of the ones have been carried out in other countries (especially developed ones), as well as the manner and the extent of support in such a way that it has the greatest socio-economic effects, has always been one of the concerns of science policymakers. Although many of the researches conducted in Iran universities are basic ones, there is no independent institution to direct and support this type of researches. Given that the most relevant institution for supporting basic research in Iran is the National Science Foundation of Iran, the study of the issues related to supporting basic research in this institution has been considered to answer the research question. In this research, with the aim of achieving a policy model for the development and support of basic research in Iran, a qualitative research method with an exploratory strategy was used, and a semi-structured interview method was used to collect data. In addition, data triangulation and researcher triangulation have been used to ensure the validity of the research. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 13 experts, scientific policy and a number of university faculty members. Based on the analysis, the policy model for the development of basic research in Iran includes components such as determining the topic, variety of programs, evaluation system, incentive system and applicability of the research results. It is also suggested to consider a competitive grant system to support basic research; both the priorities of the policy maker and the preferences of the researchers should be considered in choosing and supporting the projects; and while enhancing the peer review system, new methods and technologies should be employed to evaluate projects, proposals, and researchers.

Keywords

References

  1. Aagaard K, Norn MT and Stage AK. (2022), How mission-driven policies challenge traditional research funding systems, F1000 Research, 11:949,
  2. Akcigit Ufuk, Hanley Douglas, Serrano-Velarde Nicolas (2013), BACK TO BASICS: BASIC RESEARCH SPILLOVERS, INNOVATION POLICY AND GROWTH, NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES
  3. Arnold Erik, Balázs Katalin (1998), Methods in The Evaluation of PubliclyFunded Basic Research, Technopolis report, A Review for OECD.
  4. Boggio Andrea, Ballabeni Andrea and Hemenway David (2016), Basic Research and Knowledge Production Modes: A View from the Harvard Medical School, Science, Technology & Human Values, Vol. 41(2), 163-193.
  5. Brattströmb Erik, Hellström Tomas (2019), Street-level priority-setting: The role of discretion in implementation ofresearch, development, and innovation priorities, Energy Policy 127, 240–247.
  6. Calvert Jane (2006), What’s Special about Basic Research? Science, Technology & Human Values, Volume 31 Number 2, March, 199-220.
  7. Comprehensive scientific roadmap (1389), [in Persian].
  8. Czarnitzki Dirk and Thorwarth Susanne (2012) Productivity Effects of Basic Research in Low-Tech and High-Tech Industries, ZEW Discussion Papers, No. 12-027
  9. Denzin, N, Linkoln, Y. (2003) Strategies of qualitative inquiry, SAGE Publications, Social Science, Second Edition,
  10. Feldmana Maryann P, Kelley Maryellen R (2006), The ex ante assessment of knowledge spillovers: Government R&D policy, economic incentives and private firm behavior, Research Policy 35, 1509–1521.
  11. Frascati manual (2015), Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development
  12. General policies of science and technology (1393), [in Persian].
  13. Ghazinoori Soroush, Radaei Niloufar (2019), The Framework for STI Policy Programs, Journal of Science & Technology Policy, Volume 11, Number 2 527-542, [in Persian].
  14. Goldfarb Brent (2008), The effect of government contracting on academic research: Does the source of funding affect scientific output?, Research Policy 37, 41–58.
  15. Hellstro ̈m Tomas, Jacob Merle and Sjo ̈o Karolin (2017), From thematic to organizational prioritization: the challenges of implementing RDI priorities, Science and Public Policy, 44(5), 599–608.
  16. Lei Rong, Lv Jianqiu (2010), Study on the Evaluation System of Basic Research Projects Outputs, International Conference on E-Business and E-Government
  17. MARTIN, B. R. (1996), THE USE OF MULTIPLE INDICATORS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF BASIC RESEARCH, Scientometrics, Vol. 36, No. 3, 343-362,
  18. Martin Ben, Tang Puay (2007), The benefits from publicly funded research, SPRU Working Paper Series 161.
  19. Modell Sven (2005), Triangulation between case study and survey methods in management accounting research: An assessment of validity implications, Management Accounting Research,Volume 16, Issue 2, June, Pages 231-254.
  20. Moussavi Arash (2018), Investigating the Role of Basic Sciences for Comprehensive Development of Developing Countries, Journal of Science & Technology Policy, Volume 9, Number 4, Winter, [in Persian],
  21. OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook (2018), New trends in public research funding, https://doi.org/10.1787/sti_in_outlook-2018-en
  22. Pavitt K. (2001), Public Policies to Support Basic Research: What Can the Rest of the World Learn from US Theory and Practice? (And What They Should Not Learn), Industrial and Corporate Change, Volume 10, Number 3.
  23. Rosenberg Nathan (1990), Why do firms do basic research (with their own money)?, Research Policy, Volume 19, Issue 2, April, Pages 165-174.
  24. Safdari Ranjbar Mostafa, Elyasi Mahdi, Narimani Meysam, Attarpour Mohammad Reza (2020), Policymaking for the Development of Basic Sciences and
    Technologies: Reviewing Some Global Best Practices Rahyaft, No. 77 | Spring, [in persian].
  25. Salter Ammon J., Martin Ben R. (2001), The economic benefits of publicly funded basic research: a critical review, Research Policy 30, 509–532.
  26. SANUSI Nur Azura, SHAFIEE Noor Hayati Akma, HUSSAIN Nor Ermawati, Zuha Rosufila ABU HASAN, ABDULLAH Mohd Lazim, SA’AT Nor Hayati (2021), Return-on-Investment Measurement and Assessment of Research Fund: A Case Study in Malaysia, Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business Vol 8 No 9, 0273–0285.
  27. Schneider Flurina, Buser Tobias, Keller Rea, Tribaldos Theresa and Rist Stephan (2019), Research funding programmes aiming for societal transformations: Ten key stages, Science and Public Policy, 46(3), 463–478.
  28. Scimagojr (2022), https://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php
  29. Shokatian Taha, Ghazinoory Sepehr (2019), Challenges of Policy Making in the Realm of Basic Research, Journal of Science & Technology Policy, Volume 11, Number 2, Summer, [in Persian].
  30. Skoie Hans (1996), Basic research-a new funding climate? Science and Public Policy, April volume23, number 2 pages 66-75
  31. Stenbacka Rune, Tombak Mihkel (2020), University‐firm competition in basic researchand university funding policy, J Public Econ Theory, 2:1017–1040,
  32. TEICH ALBERT H. (1994), Priority-setting and economic payoffs in basic research: An American perspective, Higher Education 28: 95-107.
  33. Toole Andrew A. (2012), The impact of public basic research on industrial innovation: Evidence from the pharmaceutical industry, Research Policy, Volume 41, Issue 1, February, Pages 1-12.
  34. Vera-Cruz Alexandre O, Dutrénit Gabriela, Ekboir Javier, Martínez Griselda and Torres-Vargas Arturo (2008), Virtues and limits of competitive funds to finance research and innovation: the case of Mexican agriculture Science and Public Policy, 35(7), August, pages 501–513.
  35. Wang Jian, Lee You-Na, Walsh John P. (2018), Funding model and creativity in science: Competitive versus block funding and status contingency effects, Research Policy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.03.014
  36. Yang Wei (2016), Boost basic research in China, Nature, volume 534, 23 June
  37. Zellner Christian (2003), The economic effects of basic research: evidence forembodied knowledge transfer via scientists’ migration, Research Policy 32 1881–1895.



Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 10, Issue 2
2024
Pages 67-82

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics