How are ‘Pasteur researchers’ formed and what contributions do they make? A case study of a research institute in Korea

Abstract

As R&D are tightly interrelated with product markets and practical social problems, research activities have broadened from creating scientific knowledge to innovating processes and products and providing end-user solutions. Stokes (1997) suggests that use-inspired basic researchers (Pasteur-type researchers) who focus on basic research and commercialization contribute to scientific excellence and market performance. In this study, we constructed a unique panel dataset of 212 researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology for 2008–2017. The researchers were classified into four researcher types using Stokes's quadrant model based on their publications and patents in order to understand the drivers of Pasteur researchers. According to our empirical results, collaborations with industry sectors, research funds, and the age of researchers were key factors in the formation of Pasteur researchers. To understand the effect of Pasteur researchers on the performance of KIST, a t-test was conducted with the top 25 % (Q1) of researchers of each Stokes's researcher type. The results indicate that Pasteur researchers significantly contribute to the scientific performance of the institute.