Analysis of the scientific research structures: taxonomy and strategical behaviour

Nowadays the Government of industrialized countries, in presence of reduced public resources, has to assign clear objectives to public research laboratories to increase the competitiveness of firms. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the public research bodies of the National Research Council of Italy in order to pinpoint the main typologies operating in the national system of innovation (NSI). This research shows four main types of research institutes as drivers of NSI. The results can supply useful information to policy makers on the behavior of these structures and on their strengths and weaknesses.