Metabolism of Public Research Organizations: How Do Laboratories Consume State Subsidies?

Abstract

The goal of this study is to suggest a new approach, called metabolism of research organizations, which analyzes how labs consume public funding to manage their structures. A case study of one of the biggest European public research organizations reveals that public funding for research is mainly used for the cost of personnel, which has a growth rate higher than revenue (state subsidy and public contracts over time). This imbalance of growth rates within public research body under study seems to be a source of organizational inefficiencies. This new approach can support best practices of R&D management.