Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science: PLACES Impact Assessment Case Study of Prague

Regional aspects of science communication represent a potential asset and as such are quite suitable topic for further examination with respect to future social and economic development in Prague based on the city's main development strategies. Closer analysis of SCIP aspects at re- gional level can present a suitable complement for development of suitable measures and projects of the regional innovation and education policies. This study focuses on research questions related to regional dimension of science communication, its impacts and suitable tools. Document analysis and questionnaire distributed among selected experts were chosen as tools for elaboration of the study. Results suggest that regional dimension of science communication policy and initiatives is a relevant one in case of Prague. However, the attention given to this topic by national and regional authorities is unsatisfactory resulting in lack of co-ordination of activities of the respective stakeholders. Impacts of SCIP, as far as causality can be identified, lie in encouraging young people in their interest in science, increasing awareness of general public in science-related issues and explaining role of science in society and problems that science is facing. To maximise effects of science communication there is a space for national and regional authorities to play an integrating role. Given the concentration of SCIP actors, the City of Prague could aspire to develop its science communication policy in order to promote itself as a Central European centre of science

Transformation of the Academy of Sciences: From Science in Society to the Responsible Science for Society

The radical changes in the 1990s, including the more or less steep decrease in its financing, initiated major reforms of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS). The differences between the CAS and the other RD sectors consisted in the extent of financial threats posed to them and in coping strategies, personnel reductions, forms of institutional transformation, support of basic and applied research, engagement of business and enterprise sector in research activities, and new patterns of international collaboration in research. The transition process involves more stages; its developments up to now have resulted not only in institutional changes, plurality of financial sources, new methodology and procedures of science assessment, but also in the contemporary goal-directed programme “Strategy CAS21 - Top Research in the Public Interest”. This new concept addresses ideas of what are called “Responsible Research and Innovation” and “Science for Society”

Benchmarking RTD Organisations

The paper describes benchmarking methodology verified by RECORD project (supported in 5FP), oriented to RTD innovative organisations and centres of excellence. The recommended questionnaire for benchmarking procedure is published here, too

The Role of Intermediator in Research and Development Activities

The contribution presents an analysis of the intermediator role based on the outputs of European project SUPER-SME (Supporting Potential and Existing Research Intensive SMEs.

Experimental Map of Innovative Research Organisations in Middle European Countries

Application of the benchmarking procedure, creation of the RECORD experimental map of innovative research organisations in accession countries. Verification of benchmarking methodology in research and development

Benchmarking in Science and Research

The contribution discusses selected methodology for benchmarking RTD organisations in Central and Eastern Europe, including the questionnaire used for verifying benchmarking indicators