Description
This indicator pertains to research funding and is associated with the indicators Projects in cooperation with societal parties (see 1 above), and Use of tools and designs (see 3 below).
Explanation
This indicator covers research that is externally funded and carried out at the request of societal parties. Like projects undertaken in cooperation with societal parties, the main point is the interaction, leading to the delivery of knowledge in the form of a report, book, website, interventions, and so on and their use.
Usefulness
Provided that the registration of the assigned research is adequate, this is a useful indicator group. It will seldom provide a complete picture, however. Criteria that may be helpful in designing this indicator are:
- scope, duration and intensity of contract research
- interaction and actual and demonstrable use of research products