Third ISA Forum of Sociology (July 10-14, 2016)

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The Future of University Research and the National Innovation Systems

RC23 Sociology of Science and Technology (host committee)
RC07 Futures Research

Language: English

Since the inception of the National Innovation Systems in the 1990s, universities have been subjected to direct some of their efforts to satisfy the scientific and technological needs of industry and service agencies in general. Universities have been assigned a central role in fostering societal development and national economic prosperity. This was supposed to boost university-industry cooperation, technology transfer and patenting by universities. New organizations and activities to speed up the commercial utilization of academic research were established, including technology transfer offices, more industry sponsored research projects, and spin-off companies. 
Has this given rise to a distortion of the mission of the university? Particularly, has the mission of enhancing knowledge for knowledge sake been hampered? Some researchers complain they do not get enough financial support for projects when research is not related to applications. In sum, what is the future of university research and national innovation systems? Can we expect a proper balance in the sponsorship of applied and not applied research? Could not applied long-range research be properly supported regardless of its inapplicability? Should universities become the technological arm of big corporations? 
We invite colleagues interested in this relationship to submit abstracts along these and related topics and engage in an exciting discussion about the future of university research in the light of new obligations. Posters: