Identification of Prospective Collaboration Networks in International R&D Programmes

Abstract

International partnership plays an increasingly important role in the performance of innovation systems. Despite the consensus on the benefits of international cooperation and the adoption of a number of influential policies, systemic ways of joint identification of the thematic priorities and collaborative networks and activities in R&D programmes are underdeveloped. At the global level, the formation of policy is complicated by the need to account for numerous horizontal and vertical linkages, both within as well as between innovation systems. As the number of prospective stakeholder groups grows, the diversity of the objectives and strategies that they pursue grows too, implying that it becomes increasingly difficult to synchronize them.

Aiming to close the gap authors developed a methodology for robust portfolio modeling of networks (RPM-Networking) that allows identifying the thematic priorities and shaping long-term collaborative networks within national and international programmes. The basic criterion for evaluating potential networks is their viability. The proposed approach is based on portfolio analysis – robust portfolio modeling (RPM) - which allows taking into account resource-related and other constraints when identifying thematic priorities for R&D and shaping related networks. Building collaborative networks should be consistent with the definition of thematic priorities. RPM-Networking allows synthesizing these processes.

Methodologically RPM-Networking presumes an integral estimate of thematic priorities and collaborative networks thus facilitating the identification of thematic priorities and the establishment of new networks basing on multi-criteria analysis of research topics to evaluate the degree of interest of potential participants.

The paper considers the capacities of the method as exemplified by the processing of the data set derived from joint consultations under the project WoodWisdom-Net. It covers 18 partners from eight countries and seeks to advance networking and integration of national programmes in wood material science and engineering. Experience of applying the methodology has proved its effectiveness and viability.

The authors conclude that the creation of new collaborative research networks should be central to the establishment of international programs where networking is hindered by a wide variety of cultural characteristics and organizational practices. In addition applying a systemic methodology allows achieving other desired parameters such as enhanced governance, determining the exact amount of funding for projects, thus reducing the risks, and identifying the target group of scientists which are interested in related topics  in terms of complementarities and interdisciplinary approaches. Further it is possible to optimally implement the results of Foresight in practice. In particular it appears that the successful mobilization of the scientific community, submission of a quite wide range of topics for evaluation and their high scores are critical prerequisites for successful application of RPM-Networking.