Abstract
The article focuses on several challenges that OECD countries are currently facing when planning and providing public funding of R&D sphere. These issues are analyzed within more general framework — increase of efficiency of public spending of R&D and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector as a whole. The authors examine application of public R&D funding based on socio-economic classification (Frascati Manual 2015), optimal choice of forms and instruments of R&D public funding, which is linked with desired outputs and socio-economic outcomes, and methodologies of efficiency evaluation of public funding of R&D in OECD. Moreover, the authors draw the conclusion about marked extension of the list and variety of forms, methods and instruments of R&D public funding after 2007-08 global financial crisis. In addition to traditional institutional (block grants) and project financing, new form — Research Excellence Initiative (REI) — has evolved. It combines features of institutional core funding (longtermed, program format, etc.) with competitive organization and outcome orientation. It is especially efficient and effective when the focus is made on exceptional quality of research, interdisciplinary and multi-university studies. Integration of performance budgeting elements in institutional funding (e.g., performance contracts) is another noticeable trend in the evolution of public financing in OECD countries during the last decade. At the same time, the certain limits of project-based financing and application of competitive mechanisms in organization of R&D public funding became more evident, because of shorter terms and more risks associated with such projects. One more conclusion refers to wider application of holistic approach to efficiency evaluation of R&D public funding in OECD countries, when efficiency is evaluated at every stage of R&D process. Results of the research can be used in spending reviews in R&D or STI area as well as in recommendations for increasing efficiency of public governance of these areas.
Highlights
The article focuses on several challenges that OECD countries are currently facing when planning and providing public funding of R&D sphere
These issues are analyzed within more general framework — increase of efficiency of public spending of R&D and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector as a whole
The authors examine application of public R&D funding based on socio-economic classification (Frascati Manual 2015), optimal choice of forms and instruments of R&D public funding, which is linked with desired outputs and socio-economic outcomes, and methodologies of efficiency evaluation of public funding of R&D in OECD
Summary
Ключевым показателем государственной поддержки в сфере научной деятельности является объем расходов бюджета на научные исследования и разработки, определяемый на основе классификации бюджетных расходов по целям/направлениям в части НИОКР. Тем самым в классификации COFOG делается попытка увязать целевые направления государственного финансирования науки со статистическими стандартами видов научной деятельности. Расходы на прикладные исследования и разработки учитываются по одному коду функциональной бюджетной классификации, что приводит к невозможности определения объемов бюджетных расходов по каждому из этих видов деятельности в отдельности. Возникают трудности в сопоставлении непосредственных результатов, планируемых и достигнутых по каждому из этих видов научной деятельности, с объемами их финансирования, а также в проведении оценки результативности и эффективности расходов. Серьезной проблемой в современной практике учета бюджетных расходов по функциональной классификации является отсутствие четких границ между расходами собственно на выполнение научно-исследовательских работ и расходами на иные виды деятельности, связанные с НИОКР В нем научные исследования и разработки классифицируются по целям/направлениям социально-экономической политики (см. табл. 1)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.