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The relation between research priorities and societal demands: the case of rice

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 16:16 authored by Tommaso CiarliTommaso Ciarli, Ismael Ràfols
To what extent is scientific research related to societal needs? To answer this crucial question systematically we need to contrast indicators of research priorities with indicators of societal needs. We focus on rice research and technology between 1983 and 2012. We combine quantitative methods that allow investigation of the relation between ‘revealed’ research priorities and ‘revealed’ societal demands, measured respectively by research output (publications) and national accounts of rice use and farmers’ and consumers’ rice-related needs. We employ new bibliometric data, methods and indicators to identify countries’ main rice research topics (priorities) from publications. For a panel of countries, we estimate the relation between revealed research priorities and revealed demands. We find that, across countries and time, societal demands explain a country's research trajectory to a limited extent. Some research priorities are nicely aligned to societal demands, confirming that science is partly related to societal needs. However, we find a relevant number of misalignments between the focus of rice research and revealed demands, crucially related to human consumption and nutrition. We discuss some implications for research policy.

Funding

Revealing Innovation Pathways; US National Science Foundation; 1064146

Mapping the Dynamics of Emerging Technologies:; G0499; ESRC-ECONOMIC & SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL; ES/I015019/1

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Research Policy

ISSN

0048-7333

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

4

Volume

48

Page range

949-967

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-12-18

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2020-06-04

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-12-18

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