TY - BOOK
T1 - Research with an impact
T2 - Evaluation practices in public research organisations
AU - Lähteenmäki-Smith, Kaisa
AU - Hyytinen, Kirsi-Maria
AU - Kutinlahti, Pirjo
AU - Konttinen, Jari
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - This publication highlights the benefits of and the
challenges faced in assessing the societal impacts of
public research organisations, based on a research
project (JYVA) focusing on the perceptions, practises and
philosophies associated with the assessment of the
socio-economic impacts of research and development. The
JYVA-project was undertaken in a consortium between five
Finnish public research organisations (PROs) involved in
R&D activity: Agrifood Research Finland (MTT), Finnish
Defence Forces Technical Research Centre (PVTT), Helia
University of Business and Applied Sciences (HELIA),
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) and the
Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT).
The main aims of the project were to develop the
necessary methods and indicators needed to analyse the
impacts in each organisation, and to test an analytical
framework for impact assessment developed within VTT. The
main findings and policy implications are discussed here
on the basis of three related perspectives:
objectives (as they relate to organisational
perspectives)
indicators (as they relate to the innovation process more
generally)
learning (both in terms of actors and policy).
The positive impacts that public research organizations
generate originate in networks and with partners. Future
competence development therefore requires an approach
where organisational and cognitive needs relating to
impact assessment are related specifically to the
creation of new partnerships and network management, as
well as to the role and "value added" of the organisation
in these networks.
On the level of policies, the role of the R&D
organizations is essential in providing a cognitive base
for developing cross-sectoral and more broadly based
policy initiatives. In this regard management by results
and management by programming are mutually supporting
processes, where PROs should play an active role.
Impact assessment helps to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of organisational performance, as well as
enabling us to focus on the key competences of the R&D
organisations. By so doing it helps us to analyse the
"additionality" of public R&D, from the point of view of
current and potential customers, stakeholders and society
at large. It is important to balance these external
customer needs with the internal expertise development
needs of the PROs however, and to do this in such a way
that it does not jeopardise the creativity of individuals
and institutional capabilities in expert organisations,
as these are the core producers of continuous knowledge
creation, acquisition, and transfer, ultimately ensuring
continuing innovation into the future.
AB - This publication highlights the benefits of and the
challenges faced in assessing the societal impacts of
public research organisations, based on a research
project (JYVA) focusing on the perceptions, practises and
philosophies associated with the assessment of the
socio-economic impacts of research and development. The
JYVA-project was undertaken in a consortium between five
Finnish public research organisations (PROs) involved in
R&D activity: Agrifood Research Finland (MTT), Finnish
Defence Forces Technical Research Centre (PVTT), Helia
University of Business and Applied Sciences (HELIA),
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) and the
Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT).
The main aims of the project were to develop the
necessary methods and indicators needed to analyse the
impacts in each organisation, and to test an analytical
framework for impact assessment developed within VTT. The
main findings and policy implications are discussed here
on the basis of three related perspectives:
objectives (as they relate to organisational
perspectives)
indicators (as they relate to the innovation process more
generally)
learning (both in terms of actors and policy).
The positive impacts that public research organizations
generate originate in networks and with partners. Future
competence development therefore requires an approach
where organisational and cognitive needs relating to
impact assessment are related specifically to the
creation of new partnerships and network management, as
well as to the role and "value added" of the organisation
in these networks.
On the level of policies, the role of the R&D
organizations is essential in providing a cognitive base
for developing cross-sectoral and more broadly based
policy initiatives. In this regard management by results
and management by programming are mutually supporting
processes, where PROs should play an active role.
Impact assessment helps to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of organisational performance, as well as
enabling us to focus on the key competences of the R&D
organisations. By so doing it helps us to analyse the
"additionality" of public R&D, from the point of view of
current and potential customers, stakeholders and society
at large. It is important to balance these external
customer needs with the internal expertise development
needs of the PROs however, and to do this in such a way
that it does not jeopardise the creativity of individuals
and institutional capabilities in expert organisations,
as these are the core producers of continuous knowledge
creation, acquisition, and transfer, ultimately ensuring
continuing innovation into the future.
KW - evaluation
KW - impact assessment
KW - societal impacts
KW - R&D
KW - public research organisations (PROs)
KW - polytechnics
M3 - Report
SN - 951-38-6784-6
T3 - VTT Tiedotteita - Meddelanden - Research Notes
BT - Research with an impact
PB - VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
CY - Espoo
ER -