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Science policy

The business of research

Nature volume 400, pages 411–412 (1999)Cite this article

On page 433 of this issue, Plerou et al.1 provide a quantitative study of the academic research system. Such studies are essential in examinine claims as to the success (or otherwise) of the system in general, and forms of funding in particular. Whether the claims come from university scientists or policy makers, anecdote is no substitute for data.

The authors find that the growth dynamics of universities in the United States resemble those of business companies. In the same way that market forces operate in business, the peer review system appears to keep competition among scientists sufficiently strong. This intriguing result may mean that there is no need to make academic research at universities more business-like than it is already.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, RB Leiden, 2300, The Netherlands

    Henk F. Moed

  2. Science and Innovation Administration, Ministry of the Flemish Community, Boudewijnlaan 30, Brussels, B-1000, Belgium

    Marc Luwel

Authors
  1. Henk F. Moed
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  2. Marc Luwel
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Moed, H., Luwel, M. The business of research. Nature 400, 411–412 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/22662

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