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The costs of competition in distributing scarce research funds

Author

Listed:
  • Gerald Schweiger

    (a Vienna University of Technology (Technische Universität Wien) , Vienna 1040 , Austria)

  • Adrian Barnett

    (b School of Public Health and Social Work , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD 4000 , Australia)

  • Peter van den Besselaar

    (d German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies , Berlin 10117 , Germany)

  • Lutz Bornmann

    (e Science Policy and Strategy Department , Max Planck Society , Administrative Headquarters , Munich 80539 , Germany)

  • Andreas De Block

    (f Institute of Philosophy , Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Leuven 3000 , Belgium)

  • John P. A. Ioannidis

    (j Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford , Stanford University , Stanford , CA 94305)

  • Ulf Sandström

    (k Department of Industrial Economics and Management , Kungliga Tekniska högskolan Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm 100 64 , Sweden)

  • Stijn Conix

    (l Institut Supérieur de Philosophie , Université Catholique de Louvain , Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve 1348 , Belgium)

Abstract

Research funding systems fundamentally influence how science operates. This paper aims to analyze the allocation of competitive research funding from different perspectives: How reliable are decision processes for funding? What are the economic costs of competitive funding? How does competition for funds affect doing risky research? How do competitive funding environments affect scientists themselves, and which ethical issues must be considered? We attempt to identify gaps in our knowledge of research funding systems; we propose recommendations for policymakers and funding agencies, including empirical experiments of decision processes and the collection of data on these processes. With our recommendations, we hope to contribute to developing improved ways of organizing research funding.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerald Schweiger & Adrian Barnett & Peter van den Besselaar & Lutz Bornmann & Andreas De Block & John P. A. Ioannidis & Ulf Sandström & Stijn Conix, 2024. "The costs of competition in distributing scarce research funds," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 121(50), pages 2407644121-, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:121:y:2024:p:e2407644121
    DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407644121
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