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Head in the clouds and feet on the ground

Benner, Mats LU ; Liu, Li and Schwaag-Serger, Sylvia LU (2012) In Science and Public Policy 39(2). p.258-270
Abstract
Abstract in Undetermined
Few countries have increased their expenditure on R&D as rapidly as has China in recent years. However, so far, little academic attention has been paid to how decisions are taken and priorities set in Chinese research policy. This paper analyzes priority-setting in China's recent research policy. We find that China's research policy is driven by a variety of different, and sometimes conflicting, objectives, leading to a multitude of often overlapping initiatives. Secondly, mission- and excellence-driven research dominates over institution- and capacity-building and diffusion objectives. Thirdly, the process of setting research priorities is characterized by a combination of central goal... (More)
Abstract in Undetermined
Few countries have increased their expenditure on R&D as rapidly as has China in recent years. However, so far, little academic attention has been paid to how decisions are taken and priorities set in Chinese research policy. This paper analyzes priority-setting in China's recent research policy. We find that China's research policy is driven by a variety of different, and sometimes conflicting, objectives, leading to a multitude of often overlapping initiatives. Secondly, mission- and excellence-driven research dominates over institution- and capacity-building and diffusion objectives. Thirdly, the process of setting research priorities is characterized by a combination of central goal articulation-top-down decision-making-and decentralization, deliberation and stakeholder consultation-bottom-up mechanisms. Aside from contributing to the understanding of China's research and innovation policy and system, this paper provides insights into policy change in China more generally and also into the processes which shape priority-setting in transition economies. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
science policy, China, research, innovation
in
Science and Public Policy
volume
39
issue
2
pages
258 - 270
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000303097800011
  • scopus:84871378459
ISSN
1471-5430
DOI
10.1093/scipol/scs006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dfaed3b1-f3ca-4f3c-aab5-5030ba0e231c (old id 2544287)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:17:03
date last changed
2022-02-11 20:19:09
@article{dfaed3b1-f3ca-4f3c-aab5-5030ba0e231c,
  abstract     = {{Abstract in Undetermined<br>
Few countries have increased their expenditure on R&amp;D as rapidly as has China in recent years. However, so far, little academic attention has been paid to how decisions are taken and priorities set in Chinese research policy. This paper analyzes priority-setting in China's recent research policy. We find that China's research policy is driven by a variety of different, and sometimes conflicting, objectives, leading to a multitude of often overlapping initiatives. Secondly, mission- and excellence-driven research dominates over institution- and capacity-building and diffusion objectives. Thirdly, the process of setting research priorities is characterized by a combination of central goal articulation-top-down decision-making-and decentralization, deliberation and stakeholder consultation-bottom-up mechanisms. Aside from contributing to the understanding of China's research and innovation policy and system, this paper provides insights into policy change in China more generally and also into the processes which shape priority-setting in transition economies.}},
  author       = {{Benner, Mats and Liu, Li and Schwaag-Serger, Sylvia}},
  issn         = {{1471-5430}},
  keywords     = {{science policy; China; research; innovation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{258--270}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Science and Public Policy}},
  title        = {{Head in the clouds and feet on the ground}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scs006}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/scipol/scs006}},
  volume       = {{39}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}