“An analysis of the existing research efforts must be conducted with the aim of obtaining knowledge about the effects of the research investments.”

This is what the government writes in its Government Platform in the section on 'Ambitious research'.

The Minister for Higher Education and Science Esben Lunde Larsen (Danish liberal party) describes the grounds for the analysis:

"When we spend so much of the Danish taxpayers’ money on research, it is extremely important to know whether we are spending that money usefully, and whether we can see them having an effect."

Knowledge must be brought into play

Esben Lunde Larsen acknowledges that it can be difficult to measure the effect of research, and he promises to involve the sector.

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"What we can see is that a section of the research that we’re engaged in here in Denmark is not translated into practice. We rank highly on bibliometric indicators and that’s pleasing of course. But having lots of citations is not a goal in itself, if the knowledge that is formulated in the research never comes into play. I'm very interested in seeing that our excellence-based research is brought into play in society."

The bibliometric indicators mentioned by the minister here are part of the model used for distributing basic funds to the universities. The more scientific publications produced by a university, the more funds they receive via this indicator.

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It has not yet been decided when the analysis will start.

"It will come when the time is right," as the minster puts it.

Translated by Peter Lambourne