The Meridià portal of research observatory (OR-IEC): analysis, promotion and communication of catalan scientific knowledge

Abstract

The highly strategic research, development and innovation(R&D&I) cycle is fundamental to scientific knowledge and economic growth. For the cycle to function adequately, relevant R&D&I information has to be managed effectively. In recent years, the Institute of Catalan Studies (Institut d’Estudis Catalans, or IEC) has played an increasingly important role as a consultant to public bodies, primarily by preparing reports and expert opinions on strategic aspects of Catalan science policy. In 1995, the IEC was commissioned by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya) to produce the Reports de la recerca a Catalunya (Catalan Research Reports), describing the state of Catalan research in specific knowledge fields. Two volumes have been published to date, covering the six-year period 1990-1995 (24 reports) and the seven-year period 1996-2002 (27 reports). In 2003, in order to support the work involved in producing the second volume, the IEC founded the Catalan Research Observatory. Since then, the Research Observatory has gradually compiled data on the R&D&I system from all the Catalan linguistic-cultural regions. In 2008 the web portal MERIDIÀ was launched with the aim of serving as a useful and practical tool for a whole spectrum of users, ranging from researchers to interested members of the general public. Users are offered differing levels of access to the portal and its information, ranging from privileged access—by special agreement—for institutions and bodies to basic access for the public. Rather than offer comparative analyses of bodies or researchers, MERIDIÀ aims essentially to serve as a tool for transforming a large quantity of disperse and very different information on R&D&I activities in Catalonia into accessible knowledge