The OECD analyses the evolution of and trends of changes in the policy of Member countries for public research. It focuses on important issues such as the governance of systems, new mechanisms for priority setting and funding of research and questions relating to human resources in science.

The project "Steering and Funding of Research Institutions" deals with public sector research. It focuses on governance structures, priority setting, funding issues and issues of human resources. The project is monitored by an Ad Hoc Working Group consisting of experts from Member countries. Results will be published in the summer of 2003.

The above project which was originally focussing merely on the funding of basic research, developed into a study about the governance of public sector research. It has drawn on information from participating OECD countries which were collected by means of a questionnaire and other information sources. Six country case studies were carried out.

Two workshops held in Berlin and Oslo, dealt with the question of policy-relevant definition of basic research and science funding in transition.

A series of conferences was organised on the Global Research Village which dealt with the influence of ICTs on science and research.

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