Introduction: Strategic Research Partnerships? Economic, Managerial and Policy Implications

摘要

The original versions of the papers for this special issue were presented at an international workshop sponsored by the US National Science Foundation on Strategic Research Partnerships convened at SRI International, Washington DC on 13 October 2000. The objectives of that workshop were to evaluate the policy needs for indicators related to the formation, activities, and economic consequences of alliances and research partnerships, to appraise the current availability and characteristics of such data and indicators, and to advise NSF on the possibility of developing research partnership indicators. The workshop papers and discussion appraised the potential use and the nature of such indicators. The approach was essentially based on three questions: 1. Are research partnerships important to the economic system? Do they deserve policy attention? Are they important from an economic or policy perspective? 2. What data initiatives are needed to understand the economic importance or policy relevance of research partnerships? 3. What can NSF do about it?