Research Policy 2025/2026

RESEARCH POLICY (L-16)

This course provides an overview of the globalization of science, technology, and innovation, including global trends in the way knowledge is produced and distributed, the development of institutions, and global policy. It shows how technological change and innovation are shaped by the role of emerging countries in the generation of science and technological knowledge, and transnational corporations, and how reforms in intellectual property rights and world trade have been affected by the increasingly international flows of knowledge, technology, and innovation. It addresses major trends in global policy, including a significant shift toward private scientific research, the change in the distribution of science and technical knowledge, and a heightened awareness among policymakers of the economic and technological impact of scientific activity. The course will focus on setting a research agenda, which provides recommendations for funding agencies regarding under-researched and highly relevant topics, it also provides roadmaps for the optimization of research efforts to avoid overlapping, and, where possible, to close the gaps in the global spectrum and national initiatives. The course brings together key conceptual insights behind Europe’s commitment to a research agenda that implements Open Innovation, Open Science and Open to the World and highlights actions that are already taking place or are being prepared. A Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda addresses questions such as: How to benefit from and get access to available knowledge and expertise? How to promote the accumulation of knowledge and expertise? and how to address gaps in knowledge? The second part of course will provide an extensive analysis of European research infrastructures with a global impact in the domains of Data, Energy, Environment, Health & Food, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Social & Cultural Innovation. Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the forms of argumentation and propose an example of the student's choice from a classic in the history of philosophy. Prerequisites: Since these are fundamentals, prior knowledge of research policy and innovation economics is not required.

Objectives

KNOWLEDGE: (1) Knowledge of logic and philosophy of science; (2) Ability to establish connections between determinations of thought, regions, and timeframes; (3) Hermeneutical skills; (4) Awareness of the problems related to the historiographical methodology.

SKILLS: (1) Ability to analyze sources; (2) Ability to apply the theoretical and methodological tools that enable autonomy of research, critical reflection and understanding; (3) Ability to produce an organic and systematic overview; (4) Ability to manage and interpret historical-bibliographic sources autonomously and to identify connections between different phases of economic and cultural processes.

AUTONOMY: (1) Ability to formulate an independent critical judgment on economic and cultural issues;

(2) Ability to autonomously manage and interpret historical-bibliographic sources and to identify connections between different phases of economic and cultural processes.

COMMUNICATION: (1) Ability to communicate, share and disseminate information, ideas, problems and solutions with specialists and non-specialists.

LEARNING: (1) Ability to autonomously process research paths; (2) Ability to master interdisciplinary dialogue; (3) Ability to carry out research work independently.

Exams

General. Come to class prepared. This means read and think about the text carefully before each class. Reading the text in preparation for class is not optional. It is required. Reading assignments will be evaluated. Attendance is required and will be checked on a daily basis. Attendance counts toward the assessment of the final grade in the following way. Four absences will be tolerated without academic penalty; each absence after the fourth will result in a reduction of one points of the total of 30 points for the course up until the tenth absence, which results in failure for the course. A maximum of nine absences will be allowed without failure for the course. Papers. Two papers will be required for the course. The first paper, approximately three pages in length, will be due on ??? The second paper, approximately five pages in length, will be due on ??? Please type double‑spaced. Incorrect format, grammar, or spelling will reduce the grade as will late submission. Note. Correct format, grammar, and spelling comprises part of all grades. Unethical practices, such as plagiarism in papers or cheating on exams, will result in failure for the course. Exams. Two exams will be given, a mid‑term on ???, and a final exam on ???

Grade Determination

            Class Participation                                  10%

            First Paper                                            15%

            Mid‑term Exam                                      25%

            Second Paper                                         25%

            Final Exam                                           25%

The grades will be expressed according to the following scheme:

EXCELLENT (28-30): optimal ability of exposition and critical analysis of the texts considered in the classroom; optimal ability self-orientation among the themes considered in the classroom; excellent ability of mastering termini technici that are specific of the discipline.

MEDIUM (24-27): average knowledge of the subject matter and of the texts considered in the classroom; good ability of synthesis and analysis; good ability of expression and mastering termini technici that are specific of the discipline.

SUFFICIENT (18-23): Minimal knowledge of the reading material; limited ability of synthesis and analysis; scarce ability of mastering termini technici that are specific of the discipline.

NEGATIVE (exam not passed): Missed knowledge of the reading material and/or important mistakes in the understanding and the presentation of the content; non-ability mastering termini technici that are specific of the discipline.

Schedule and Reading Assignments

1-Day, Month 2026           Introduction to Research Policy (slides)

2-Day, Month 2026           Introduction to Innovation Economics (slides)

3-Day, Month 2026           Research Agenda (Kingdon, ch. 1, p. 1-20)

4-Day, Month 2026           Inside of Government (Kingdon, ch. 2, p. 21-44)

5-Day, Month 2026           Outside of Government (Kingdon, ch. 3, p. 45-70)

6-Day, Month 2026           Policy Window (Kingdon, ch. 3, p. 165-195)

7-Day, Month 2026           Open Innovation (EU-RTD, ch. 1, p. 11-30)

8-Day, Month 2026           Open Science (EU-RTD, ch. 2, p. 33-55)

9-Day, Month 2026           Open to the World (EU-RTD, ch. 2, p. 59-79)

10-Day, Month 2026         Research Infrastructures Policy (ESFRI, part 1, p. 7-31)

11-Day, Month 2026         Landscape Analysis of Domains (ESFRI, part 2, p. 37-114)

12-Day, Month 2026         Data (ESFRI, part 2, p. 41-47)

13-Day, Month 2026         Energy (ESFRI, part 2, p. 49-60)

14-Day, Month 2026         Environment (ESFRI, part 2, p. 63-65)

15-Day, Month 2026         Health & Food (ESFRI, part 2, p. 77-87)

16-Day, Month 2026         Physical Sciences & Engineering (ESFRI, part 2, p. 89-103)

17-Day, Month 2026         Social & Cultural Innovation (ESFRI, part 2, p. 105-114)

18-Day, Month 2026         Humanities (ESFRI, part 2, p. 111-112, 185-190)

19-Day, Month 2026         Social Sciences (ESFRI, part 2, p. 112, 229-233)

20-Day, Month 2026         Big data (ESFRI, part 2, p. 112-115, p. 193)

21-Day, Month 2026         Conclusion (ESFRI, p. 149-161)

References

MANDATORY (all open access)

European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (2015): Open Innovation, Open Science, Open to the World – A Vision for Europe, Luxembourg: Publication Office of the European Union. DOI 10.2777/061652.

European Strategy Forum Research Infrastructures (2021): Strategy Report Research Infrastructures: Roadmap 2021. Brussels: Science and Technology Facilities Council. ISBN 978-88-943243-6-5.

Kingdon, John W. (2014): Agenda, Alternatives, and Public Policies (2nd ed.). Harlow: Pearson. ISBN 978-1-269-37450-6.

OPTIONAL You will not be asked to read the book (all open access) in its entirety. You will be asked instead to select an argument of your choice and prepare a report.

Archibugi, Daniele/Filippetti, Andrea (2015): The Handbook of Global Science, Technology, and Innovation. London: Wiley. DOI:10.1002/9781118739044.

Chesbrough, Herbert W. (2003): Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. ISBN 1-57851-837-7.

European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (2015): Bridge over Troubled Waters? The Link between European Historical Heritage and the Future of European Integration: Insights from Social Sciences and Humanities Research on Reflective Societies. Luxembourg: Publication Office of the European Union. DOI 102777/534076.

Pozzo, Riccardo (2021): History of Philosophy and the Reflective Society. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter. DOI 10.1515/9783110709292.