Translational twists and turns:
Science as a socio-economic endeavor

4-6th September 2013

Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Berlin, Germany

In 2010 two prominent international conference series were merged - the ENID series and the ’Leiden’ STI Series. The now annual STI Conference is devoted to bringing together researchers, STI indicator producers and users, as well as other stakeholders.

It aims to provide a European and worldwide forum for presenting and discussing advances in constructing, using and interpreting STI indicators. Thus a better understanding is gained with regard to STI indicators applied in different contexts which range from understanding institutional structures, developmental processes and contexts of science itself to their use as analytical tools in knowledge management and science policy decision making.

The STI conference is organized under the auspice of ENID, the European Network of Indicator Designers.

Themes
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In recent years the demand for and the use of science, technology and innovation indicators increased significantly. On the one hand science policy is asking for ‘objective’ data to assess the performance, position and interaction of the various players in the STI system. Among other things, this can be explained by the widespread move towards new modes of governance which increasingly can be characterized as ’governing by competition’. On the other hand science itself is calling for a better understanding of its knowledge production, dissemination and transfer processes. Both sides serve as continuous driving forces for the development of quantitative studies of science, technology and innovation.

New demands also emerged as a consequence of the growing complexity of science and innovation systems. This concerns, for instance, interactions at the regional, national and international level but also changes in the scientific communication due to the increasing relevance of new communication channels. Consequently new data sources open up new analytical options and new indicators emerge addressing these aspects (e. g. collaboration indicators, web indicators, indicators on human resources, career advancement and mobility). Existing indicators are put to test whether they are still adequate and address the needs of science policy as much as science studies.

The conference aims to provide a locus both for general methodological discussion concerning new indicators, their use in policymaking and the realm of science of science studies. The requirements for data generation, indicator production, also for specific domains, their design, methodology, experimental development and application will be discussed.


We invite submission for papers to be presented to the conference on the following key topics:

* Measuring and assessing benefits of science (including scientific outputs, innovation, social and environmental benefits)
* Knowledge transfer, knowledge exchange and specific issues relating to translational research
* Science push or pull factors for societal change
* Governance by competition: modes, instruments, effects and impacts of competition in research funding
* Impact of performance-based funding systems
* Production and reproduction of hierarchy: pros and cons of university rankings
* The geography of science and higher education systems: globalization, regionalization and localization processes
* Cross-sectoral research collaborations: fertilization or impediment?


Call for papers and posters
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The following types of contributions are invited:
Full papers
Papers should have an analytical approach, starting from theories in economics or social sciences and formulating specific questions to be answered with existing or novel indicators. A broader view of the research system with regard to public and private players on the one hand and different types of research and innovation activities on the other hand is strongly encouraged.
Work in progress
Presentations of on-going projects and activities can be more descriptive in nature but should be contextualized in terms of policy-relevant questions and production of new indicators and datasets.
Poster presentations
Posters are devoted to present preliminary and provisional research results, which would benefit from a broad discussion for further implementation.
The publication of selected papers in special sections of international journals, like Science and Public Policy and Research Evaluation, is envisaged.


Submission
Full papers:
short paper, including an abstract outlining the theoretical framework, research questions, methodology and possibly preliminary results (up to 3,000 words)

Posters or work in progress reports:
extended abstract (up to 1,000 words)
Submissions should contain the following information:

Name and affiliation of the author(s)
Name and email of the corresponding author
Conference theme and subtheme (see topics outlined above)
Selected references

Deadlines
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Deadline for paper submission: 1st March 2013
Notification of acceptance: 20th May 2013
Conference registration will open on 1st of June 2013