Benchmarking and Performance of UK Science-based institutions 

Lead Investigator : Prof. Andy Neely

Project Investigator: Dr. Surya Mahdi (This Work Package Investigator); Dr. Pablo D'Este; Dr. Basil Yaghi

Timescales: 3 years

Project Outline:
UK University Research Teams' Engagement with Industry - Rationales and Impact on their Scientific Performance

In this work package, Dr Mahdi investigates why certain UK university research teams are more able to engage frequently with industry and how some of them can still maintain high scientific performance.

Proposed Methods:

• Phase 1: Quantitative Methodology - Bibliometrics
• Phase 2: Qualitative Methodology - Case Studies

Proposed Methods: 

Key Messages from Our Research so far…

Our quantitative investigation indicates that:

In general, the proportion of industry funding correlates negatively with scientific performance at the university departmental level.  However, apart in few scientific disciplines, the correlations themselves are not significant and usually weak.  This may suggest that certain departmental units are somewhat able to find "best management practices" to deal with the supposedly conflicting needs between industrial and scientific research while others may not be so successful in combining the two.

 Future Plans

Working on the Qualitative Part of The Work Package

Member Profile

Dr. Surya Mahdi works in the area of Technology Innovation Management as well as in Science & Technology Policy.  His research interests include: Modes of Innovation, Technology Strategy, Technology Intelligence, Management of Innovating Organizations, Management of Knowledge-Producing Agents, Knowledge Management, and Measurement of Knowledge, Scientific, Technology, Innovation and Research Performance.  He is currently associated with Centre of Business Performance at the Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University.

Links to other researchers

• http://www.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/research/centres/cbp/index.asp
• http://www.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/faculty/index3.asp?alpha=M

News and upcoming events

Outputs:

Working/Work in Progress Papers

Anticipated Outcomes in 2008

• Working Paper: Mahdi, S.; D'Este, P., Neely, A. and Yaghi, B. (In Progress, Expected in 2008): "The Impact of University-Industry Funding Activity on the University Scientific Performance".
• Working Paper: Mahdi, S.; D'Este, P., Neely, A. and Yaghi, B. (In Progress, Expected in 2008):  "Assessment of the Role of Subjective Measurement of Scientific Research Performance:  The Case of UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2001".