CSIL researchers recently authored a new international paper on socio-economic impact assessment of research infrastructure published on Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics.
The paper builds on the evidence collected through two surveys to direct and indirect users of ALBA (overall 384 questionnaires collected), in‐depth interviews as well as an analysis of patents’ citations. It draws from a pilot exercise carried out in the framework of the Horizon 2020 Ri‐Paths project (Charting Impact Pathways of Investment in Research Infrastructures). It contributes to the broader discussion on the socio‐economic impact assessment of Research Infrastructures and relevant methodologies and metrics.
From scientific experiments to innovation: Impact pathways of a Synchrotron Light Facility
CSIL has concluded the 30-month long Horizon 2020 project RI-PATHS: Research Infrastructure ImPact Assessment PaTHwayS. The RI-PATHS project aimed to develop a comprehensive framework describing the socioeconomic impact of Research Infrastructures and their related financial investments. The framework was developed in a modular manner, adapting it to a broad range of scientific domains and types of Research Infrastructures.
Among other activities, CSIL’s role included a comprehensive stocktaking exercise and mapping of data gathering needs of the key stakeholder groups, including a survey of RI managers and funders and interviews with policymakers, funding agencies and independent experts. CSIL’s team has also piloted the IA model with the ALBA synchrotron, in Barcelona. We assessed innovation pathways arising from experiments carried out at ALBA through a bibliometric analysis of publications and patents documents.
The final results of the project are available online and include a Research Infrastructures’ Impact Assessment Toolkit site. The Toolkit features descriptions of the identified impact pathways leading to key socioeconomic impacts. It also provides guidance on the most common impact areas and presents examples of suitable monitoring and reporting tools, as well as methodologies for impact measurement. There is an option to browse, search and retrieve all frequently used indicators per main impact areas and types of indicators. A Guidebook is available to accompany the Toolkit users. It gives a glimpse into the topic of impact assessment, presents useful examples and helps RI managers, policymakers and funders make important strategic choices.
CSIL has prepared an independent study to provide a comprehensive and unbiased understanding of the strengths and challenges of the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA) route. By investigating the added value and relevance of the European Assessment Documents and European Technical Assessments, the overall objective of the study was to support and improve EOTA's tasks to more effectively achieve the goals of the Construction Products Regulation and deliver a better service to the construction sector.
Through a rigorous, in-depth analysis of the regulatory documents, previous analytical and evaluation studies, and consultation with more than 300 different stakeholders in the construction products market, including Technical Assessment Bodies, manufacturers, business associations, and EOTA representatives, the study found that the EADs and ETAs offer a relevant and valuable alternative for the harmonisation of construction products to be traded across the EU. A set of insight identified is available on EOTA's website, along with the full final report.
Massimo Florio has recently edited a CIRIEC Working Paper reflecting how the COVID-pandemic could be an opportunity for Europe to rethink the present public health funding strategy, roles and goals of all players involved.
The working paper, titled Biomed Europa: after the coronavirus, a public infrastructure to overcome the pharmaceutical oligopoly, is available online.
It proposes a structural intervention to create an international, interconnected, transparent, science-informed, and publicly-funded research infrastructure for pharmaceutical and biomedical research – BIOMED EUROPA.
The publications draw from an intervention (in Italian) at the streamed event “Inequality in times of crisis. A year in our lives that has been more useful than ever before: our 15 proposals” (25th March 2020) Inequality and Diversity Forum, and at the Webinar by Società Italiana degli Economisti, June 4, 2020.
An interview on the same topic (in Italian) is also available on spreaker.com.
Massimo Florio and Chiara Pancotti authored a new paper published in open-access on Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Physics.
“The Economics of Physics: The Social Cost-Benefit Analysis of Large Research Infrastructures” argues that large-scale Research Infrastructures in physics may take advantage of the scrutiny of social Cost-Benefit Analysis. It can either be used to complement the scientific case before a decision is taken or be performed several years later to assess the ex-post impact of the investment decision.
“The Economics of Physics: The Social Cost-Benefit Analysis of Large Research Infrastructures”