Beijing Roundtable on Innovation Policies

Beijing, 18- 19 October 2011

Public research institutions in Italy: change and continuity

Sveva AvvedutoDirector, Italian National Research Council,Institute for research on population and Social Policies

Relevant Research Institutions

CNR is the biggest

Other relevant ones under the Ministry for Research: INFN (Particle and Nucl. Phys.) INAF (Astronomy and Astrophysics) INGV (Geophysics and Volcanology)

Under other Ministries, e.g. ENEA (Energy), ISS (Health), INEA (Agriculture)

Mission of CNR

3

To perform research in its own labs

To promote innovation and competitiveness in the industrial system

To promote the internationalization of the research system

To provide technologies and solutions to emerging public and private needs

To advise Government and other public bodies

To contribute to qualification of human resources

CNR figures

Full range of scientific areas, except Particle Physics, Space and Astronomy/Astrophysics

Premises widespread over the country

7400 employees of which 4400 researchers

2500 junior scientists completing their training

Wide cooperation with universities and other research institutions

Trieste 1

Trento 1

Padova 4Venezia 2

Milano 7Pavia 2Segrate 2

Genova 2

Torino 2Pallanza 1Moncalieri 1

Bologna 3Cassana 1Parma 1Faenza 1Sesto Fiorentino 5

Firenze 3Pisa 7

Monserrato 1Cagliari 1S. M. La Palma 1

Ancona 1

L’Aquila 1

Roma 18Monterotondo 5

Bari 5Lecce 1

Napoli 12Avellino 1Ponticelli 1Pozzuoli 3Ercolano 1

Potenza

Mangone 1Arcavacata di Rende 1Rende 1

Catania 1Messina 1Palermo 1

Perugia 1Porano 1

CNR premises

CNR 20 research campuses

Pisa

Bologna

CNR Finance

Incomes Euro/mil

State Contribution 552

Other Incomes 248

Total 800

Survey OECDRespondig Organizational Units of Public Research Institution

INAF 2.7%

INEA 1.8%

OGS 0.9%

Other Institutes7.1%

INGV1.8%

INFN 10.6%

ENSE0.9%

ENEA 14.2%

CNR60.2%

Which activities?The characteristics of the main mission of the institutes

13.2%

11.6%

10.8%

8.6%

6.5%

5.7%

4.9%

19.7%

18.9%

0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0% 18.0% 20.0%

Produce basic research

Produce research oriented to strategic sectors

Provide education and training of researchers

Provide research to solve societal grand challenges

Provide commissioned R&D for public administration

Provide commissioned R&D for firms

Provide R&D related services – e.g. testing

Provide expertise for norms/certifications/standard setting

Provide specific instruments and facilities

Share of national total

113 institutes / 250

45% of national total

Significant change of:%

Mission 16.9Organisation structure 38.3Portfolio of activities 8.4Relationships with other R& 5.2Funding structure 14.3Steering and management 16.9Total 100.0

Causes and drivers of change

Public budget restrictions

21.6%

New strategic orientation

41.4%

Technological development

7.8%Scientific

development 12.9%

Overall economic

development 7.8%

Political development

8.6%

Appearance of change by:

%Growth of institute 14.6Reduction of institute 2.5Merger of institute 20.9Split-up into several institutes 3.8Larger research groups 12.7Smaller research groups 3.2Additional scientific fields 14.6Reduction of scientific fields 3.8Institutionalised collaboration 8.2New management 15.8Total 100.0

The activities in the field of science are... (Response rate 70.8%)

60.3 63.142.3 31.1 23.1 23.8

69.6

39.7 36.957.7

68.9 76.9 76.2

30.4

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Natural Sciences

Engineering and Techno...Medical and Health Scie...

Agricultural Sciences

Social SciencesHumanities

Trans- and Multidiscipli...

very important less important

During the last 10 years the volume of the activities in the field of science are.... (Response rate 68.1%)

increased same decreased

Natural Sciences 50.9 45.3 3.8Engineering and Technology 62.3 31.1 6.6

Medical and Health Sciences 52.2 45.7 2.2

Agricultural Sciences 24.4 73.2 2.4

Social Sciences 22.2 77.8 - Humanities 19.5 78.0 2.4Trans and Multidisciplinary 63.0 34.8 2.2

To what degree is the institute

internationalised? % % valid

high 19.5 48.9

middle 8.8 22.2

low 11.5 28.9

missing values 60.2

Total 100.0

Degree of change (Response rate 54.0 %)

increased same decreased

Number of international partners

85.2 13.1 1.6

Numbers of countries with established relations

85.2 14.8 -

Share of international joint research projects

78.0 20.3 1.7

Share of funding from abroad 69.0 25.9 5.2

Share of staff with foreign nationality

37.3 56.9 5.9

Participation in international committees

73.7 26.3 -

Reasons for changes: Number

of international partners %

Access to knowledge 7.1

Exploitation of knowledge 16.1

Globalised organisation of R&D 42.9

Economic needs 7.1

Strategic considerations 21.4

Political will 1.8

Other 3.6

Total 100.0

Current ownership and governance structure

Mission: top management of org.b 40.4%Strategic planning: Management of institute 50.0%Research orientation/agenda:Management of institute 32.6%Portfolio of activity structure: Top management of research organisation 45.7%Selection of projects Management of institute 35.0%Use of public institutional funds: Management of institute 59.6%Use of public competitive funds: Project management 39.5%Use of contracted funds: Project management 55.6%

%

Public agency 92.0

Independent public agency 6.0

Publicly owned company 2.0

Privately owned limited company -

Independent foundation -

Total 100.0

What do you expect to be the main challenges of your

institute in the next 5 years

Increase degree of internationalisation

19.5%

Increase contract research

24.4%

Organisational development

14.6%

Increase scientific impact (e.g. by publications)

25.2%

Increase industry impact (e.g. by

patents. contracts)

16.3%

Thank you for your attention