This problem is a UK government area of research interest (ARI) that was originally posted at https://ari.org.uk/ by a UK government organisation to indicate that they are keen to see research related to this area.
Competitive Advantage: What would a robust and impartial set of international comparators for RDI performance look like that measures the quality rather than quantity of research performed? Are there more nuanced measures of quality than traditional statistics?
SRID evidence aims to ensure that DSIT’s significant RDI budget is invested effectively and that we understand its impact and value for money. The Science, Technology and Innovation Analysis Team (STIA), the analytical team supporting SRID, develop the evidence base via internal analysis, cross-Whitehall collaboration and externally commissioned research projects. STIA work closely with other analytical teams in DSIT and DSIT’s partner organisations.
STIA continuously work to improve our approach and methods of valuing RDI investment to fully showcase and evidence its value to the UK. We are also interested in developing new real-time performance monitoring tools to allow for more agile decision-making and significantly improve our Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) capabilities. Improving our methodology for measuring economic, social and research benefits of RDI is also our priority.
SRID and STIA want to develop a stronger evidence base of the foundations of the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) system including how to: 1) grow the RDI workforce by improving the domestic pipeline, attracting and retaining the most talented RDI workers and supporting diverse, dynamic and creative careers 2) develop strong and sustainable RDI institutions that foster innovation 3) identify and capitalise on RDI clusters in the UK to support the levelling up agenda.
We also aim to develop a better understanding of how RDI policy can best drive economic growth, better jobs and discoveries. We aim to do this through identifying the best methods for measuring adoption and diffusion of innovation as well as drivers and barriers to innovation to create conditions for an increased investment in innovation.
Tracking trends and patterns in RDI helps to ensure that the Department stays up to date with key indicators of UK’s performance and its competitiveness in the global landscape of Science and Technology.
Contact details
If you are keen to register your interest in working and connecting with DSIT Science, Innovation, and Research Directorate, and/or submitting evidence, then please complete the DSIT-ARI Evidence survey - https://dsit.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cDfmK2OukVAnirs
Link to ARIs : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-areas-of-research-interest/dsit-areas-of-research-interest-2024
Related UKRI Projects
- Innovation and Productivity Grand Challenge
- Serendipity in Science, Technology and Innovation
- Taiwan Innovation Exchange FLIP
- Innovation & Research Caucus
- Novel method for tracking the translation processes that lead to impact from Biomedical research - A pilot study
- Promoting the roles of R&D service firms in the innovation system
- Understanding the relative valuations of research impact: Applying best-worst scaling experiments to survey the public & biomedical/health researchers
- HEI Consortium INnoVation and ENTrepreneurship in HEIs (INVENTHEI)
- Evaluation of Research and Development (R&D) Expenditures, Firm Survival, Firm Growth and Employment: UK Evidence in the OECD Context
- Emerging Technologies, Trajectories and Implications of Next Generation Innovation Systems Development in China and Russia