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How do public research labs use funding for research? A case study

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  • Mario Coccia

Abstract

This paper discusses how public research organizations consume funding for research, applying a new approach based on economic metabolism of research labs, in a broad analogy with biology. This approach is applied to a case study in Europe represented by one of the biggest European public research organizations, the National Research council of Italy. Results suggest that funding for research (state subsidy and public contracts) of this public research organization is mainly consumed for the cost of personnel. In addition, the analysis shows a disproportionate growth of the cost of personnel in public research labs in comparison with total revenue from government. In the presence of shrinking public research lab budgets, this organizational behavior generates inefficiencies and stress. R&D management and public policy implications are suggested for improving economic performance of public research organizations in turbulent markets.

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  • Mario Coccia, 2018. "How do public research labs use funding for research? A case study," Papers 1805.11932, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1805.11932
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mario Coccia & Greta Falavigna & Alessandro Manello, 2015. "The impact of hybrid public and market-oriented financing mechanisms on the scientific portfolio and performances of public research labs: a scientometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 102(1), pages 151-168, January.
    2. Sabine Barles, 2010. "Society, energy and materials: the contribution of urban metabolism studies to sustainable urban development issues," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(4), pages 439-455.
    3. Mario Coccia & Emanuele Cadario, 2014. "Organisational (un)learning of public research labs in turbulent context," International Journal of Innovation and Learning, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(2), pages 115-129.
    4. Cruz-Castro, Laura & Sanz-Menéndez, Luis, 2016. "The effects of the economic crisis on public research: Spanish budgetary policies and research organizations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 113(PB), pages 157-167.
    5. Coccia, Mario & Wang, Lili, 2015. "Path-breaking directions of nanotechnology-based chemotherapy and molecular cancer therapy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 155-169.
    6. Ikujiro Nonaka, 1994. "A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 14-37, February.
    7. Cavallo, Eugenio & Ferrari, Ester & Bollani, Luigi & Coccia, Mario, 2014. "Attitudes and behaviour of adopters of technological innovations in agricultural tractors: A case study in Italian agricultural system," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 44-54.
    8. Mario Coccia, 2003. "Models For Measuring The Research Performance And Management Of The Public Labs," CERIS Working Paper 200301, CNR-IRCrES Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth - Torino (TO) ITALY - former Institute for Economic Research on Firms and Growth - Moncalieri (TO) ITALY.
    9. Mario Coccia, 2006. "Classifications of innovations: Survey and future directions," CERIS Working Paper 200602, CNR-IRCrES Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth - Torino (TO) ITALY - former Institute for Economic Research on Firms and Growth - Moncalieri (TO) ITALY.
    10. Michael M. Crow & Barry L. Bozeman, 1987. "A new typology for R&D laboratories: Implications for policy analysts," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 6(3), pages 328-341.
    11. Mario Coccia, 2009. "Research performance and bureaucracy within public research labs," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 79(1), pages 93-107, April.
    12. Unknown, 2016. "Energy for Sustainable Development," Conference Proceedings 253270, Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies (IDSAsr).
    13. Mario Coccia, 2009. "A New Approach for Measuring and Analysing Patterns of Regional Economic Growth: Empirical Analysis in Italy," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 8(2), pages 71-95.
    14. Barry Bozeman & Monica Gaughan, 2011. "Job Satisfaction among University Faculty: Individual, Work, and Institutional Determinants," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 82(2), pages 154-186, March.
    15. Christopher Kennedy & John Cuddihy & Joshua Engel‐Yan, 2007. "The Changing Metabolism of Cities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(2), pages 43-59, April.
    16. Stephan, Paula E., 2010. "The Economics of Science," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 217-273, Elsevier.
    17. Mario Coccia, 2005. "Countrymetrics: valutazione della performance economica e tecnologia dei paesi e posizionamento dell’Italia," Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, Vita e Pensiero, Pubblicazioni dell'Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, vol. 113(3), pages 377-412.
    18. Mario Coccia, 2008. "New organisational behaviour of public research institutions: lessons learned from Italian case study," International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(4), pages 402-419.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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