Mulligan_et_al_2022_Research_Policy.pdf (683.53 kB)
Harnessing the science base: Results from a national programme using publicly-funded research centres to reshape firms’ R&D
journal contribution
posted on 2022-10-26, 15:48 authored by KEVIN MULLIGANKEVIN MULLIGAN, HELENA LENIHANHELENA LENIHAN, Justin Doran, Stephen RoperSince 2000 and the launch of Science Foundation Ireland, Irish policymakers have been involved in a large-scale national science policy programme. Starting from a position with little pre-existing research infrastructure beyond its traditional higher education system, Ireland allocated significant public resources to rapidly develop an extensive research centres programme. These centres are designed to harness knowledge embedded in the national science base to impact firm-level Research and Development (R&D). Each research centre focuses on basic and applied research (as opposed to development), targeted at prioritised sectors of the economy. Using a novel panel dataset (2007-2017), our analysis provides the first evaluation of these research centres. Results indicate that research centre collaborations increase firm-level R&D, and, over time, re-orient collaborating firms' R&D towards more applied research. We also consider how impacts vary depending on the firms’ characteristics (size and sector), and research centre characteristics. Our findings demonstrate that Ireland's policy programme improved firms' R&D profile, and suggest key policy lessons for other economies who might consider adopting a similar strategy.
Funding
Evaluating the impact of science policy on the economy and society: A national evaluation and international benchmarking of science policy in Ireland
Science Foundation Ireland
Find out more...History
Publication
Research Policy;51 (4)Publisher
ElsevierNote
peer-reviewedOther Funding information
SFIRights
© 2022. Licensed under the Creative Commons under the CC BY public copyright license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Language
EnglishSustainable development goals
- (4) Quality Education
External identifier
Department or School
- Economics