How to Increase Research Productivity?
The key ingredient behind successful innovation is scientific research. However, research productivity halves every fourteen years.
A global decline in productivity is evident in many corners of the world.
The question is: how to increase it?
What is research productivity?
Broadly speaking, there are three ways to define research productivity (RP).
First, there is the scientometric perspective that sees RP as the ratio of research inputs to knowledge codified in bibliographical outputs. These could be scientific publications or patents.
This framework aims to assess the efficiency of publishing or patenting, with the belief that the more publications and patents, the better.
Most research organisations rely on this definition.
However, productivity can also be defined as the ratio of research inputs to innovation outputs. The former could be funding and human capital, while the latter may be technologies, patents, ideas, and solutions to problems.
The key difference is that this framework focuses on economic growth and productivity.
Lastly, research productivity through the lens of societal impact is defined as the relationship between research inputs, how they are organized and prioritized, and their potential effects on society.
The main goal of this framework is to improve the way research is conducted to achieve more and better societal outcomes.
What hinders research productivity?
There are factors that can slow down research productivity.
One of them is the pressure to keep up with the market.
As the way we do research and development changes and new technologies and companies come about, we need to adapt our processes.
But, sometimes the focus is more on making a profit rather than on expanding knowledge to help society.
Additionally, there are policies in place that don't always encourage pushing the boundaries of what we know.
Since we need new knowledge to innovate, it's becoming harder to achieve it because we need more resources and talented people to do it.
Also, coming up with truly innovative ideas can be risky, especially when it involves combining different types of knowledge.
Three ways to boost research productivity
There are many ways to increase research output. In this post, we suggest three paths.
First, policymakers and research organisations should encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.
Bringing together researchers from different fields can lead to new perspectives and approaches, increasing the chances of breakthroughs.
Collaboration can also be extended beyond the academic community, including working with industry partners and other stakeholders.
Second, focused investments in technology and infrastructure.
Adopting new technologies and investing in infrastructure can increase efficiency and speed up the research process.
This includes investing in high-performance computing, advanced analytical tools, and data storage and management systems.
Finally, but often overlooked - fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
Encouraging a culture of innovation and creativity within research teams can lead to new ideas and approaches.
This includes providing opportunities for researchers to take risks, giving them the freedom to pursue their own interests, and recognizing and rewarding innovation and creativity.