The approach adopted in the design of a system of continuous evaluation and monitoring for COST, the European mechanism for the stimulation of co-operation in scientific and technical research, is described. The emphasis is on the derivation of a framework which asks questions about the...

We describe the development and testing of a framework to characterize researchers individually (a profile) and in aggregate (as types) at the first stage, baseline step of a controlled, two-stage study of public research funding agency impacts. Our framework characterizes researcher attitudes...

The paper describes the design and implementation of an evaluation of a participative foresight process, Futur — the German Research Dialogue. Futur aims to enrich the process of strategy development for research priorities by involving a broad array of actors in a combination of different...

The papers in this issue provide a clear picture of the practice of research evaluation in the European Union. Experiences differ as would be expected given the diversity of systems in which evaluation is carried out. While programme evaluations are becoming more routine, institutional reforms...

There is tension between the demand for measurement of the return on R&D as an investment, and the ability of current approaches to supply such measures. A common interest in this problem brings together a number of interest groups as evidenced by the membership of the SPEAR Network. In this...