Evaluation systems and approaches towards analyzing the impact of the results of scientific research upon the economy and society: international experience

Abstract

Systematic evaluation of the results of research activity funded by the state, including analysis of the impact of the results of research upon the development of the economy and society, has become common practice in governance of the science sector. It pertains to acquisition of evidence-based data and feedback necessary for decision making on the effectiveness of the existing governance techniques and selection of the methods (including legal) for their improvement. The exceptional complexity and dynamic change of the object of analysis (science, production of scientific knowledge) encourages to constantly search for new approaches worldwide for acquiring qualitative and accurate evaluations of the results of scientific research. From such perspective, systematic monitoring and analysis of the relevant foreign experience is advantageous for the theory and practice of governing scientific development, as it allows taking into account the mistakes and achievements of other countries with regards to development and improvement of their evaluation systems. Analysis is conducted on a range of systems (mainly European) and approaches towards evaluation of the contribution of sciences to socioeconomic development. The author reveals the peculiarities and flaws of the evaluation system under study. This article is first to demonstrate that the vast problematic field associated with the assessment of the contribution of sciences, should be viewed within the framework of the theory of state audit, which distinguishes between external and internal systems of monitoring. The conclusion is made that the peculiarities of functionality of science do not allow demarcating the contours of internal and external audit of the results of “scientific production” without compromising the quality of the acquired conclusions. The improvement of evaluation systems is a continuous process, associated with the co-evolution of science and scientific policy.