Cover Page. Author: Jong, Stefan de Title: Engaging scientists : organising valorisation in the Netherlands Issue Date:

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1 Cover Page The handle holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation Author: Jong, Stefan de Title: Engaging scientists : organising valorisation in the Netherlands Issue Date:

2 The Rathenau Instituut promotes the formation of political and public opinion on science and technology. To this end, the Institute studies the organization and development of science systems, publishes about social impact of new technologies, and organizes debates on issues and dilemmas in science and technology.

3 Engaging Scientists Organising Valorisation in the Netherlands

4 Rathenau Instituut, Den Haag, 2015 Rathenau Instituut Anna van Saksenlaan 51 Postal address: Postbus CJ Den Haag The Netherlands Telephone: +31 (0) Website: Publisher: Rathenau Instituut Lay-out: Boven de Bank, Zeist Coverphoto: Hollandse Hoogte Printing: Drukkerij Groen, Hoofddorp This book is printed on FSC certified paper. ISBN/EAN: Preferred citation: De Jong, S.P.L., Engaging Scientists: Organising valorisation in the Netherlands, Den Haag, Rathenau Instituut 2015 The Rathenau Instituut has an Open Access policy. Reports and background studies, scientific articles, and software are published publicly and free of charge. Research data are made freely available, while respecting laws and ethical norms, copyrights, privacy and the rights of third parties. This dissertation is based on research the author has done as an employee of the Rathenau Instituut. This text is the author s PhD thesis. The views in this dissertation are not necessarily the same as those of the Rathenau Instituut.

5 LEIDEN UNIVERSITEIT Engaging Scientists Organising Valorisation in the Netherlands PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden, op gezag van Rector Magnificus prof. mr. C.J.J.M. Stolker volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties, te verdedigen op donderdag 10 september 2015, klokke uur door Stefan Pieter Lodewijk de Jong geboren te Utrecht, Nederland, 1983

6 Thesis committee: Promotor: Prof. dr. P.F. Wouters Co-promotor: Dr. I.C.M. van der Weijden Other members: Prof. dr. C. van Bochove Prof. dr. H.O. Dijstelbloem Dr. I. Meijer Prof. dr. J. Molas-Gallart Prof. dr. E. H. M. Moors

7 Voor Oma uit Rotterdam Cogito ergo sum

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9 Rathenau Instituut 7 Content Prologue 9 1 Introduction Valorisation policy and the resulting debate in the academic community Public sector policy-making: the decades of New Public Management Relationship between government and science Societal benefits of scientific research Methodology Scientific relevance 36 2 Scientists response to societal impact policies: a policy paradox Introduction Theoretical framework Methodology Valorisation in policy Valorisation in practice Conclusion and discussion 61 3 Exploring the promises of transdisciplinary research: a quantitative study of two climate research programmes Introduction Background Theoretical framework Methods and data Results Conclusion and discussion 87 4 Understanding societal impact through productive interactions: ICT research as a case Introduction Method and cases Findings Comparative analysis Discussion Evaluation of research in context: an approach and two cases Introduction Data and methods The architecture case The law case Evaluation research in context: conclusion and discussion 133

10 8 Engaging Scientists - Organising Valorisation in the Netherlands 6 Concluding chapter Introduction Conclusions Reflection Recommendations for practice 151 Epilogue 163 Nederlandse samenvatting Engaging Scientists: Organization of valorization in the Netherlands - Valorisatie in wetenschapsbeleid en wetenschapspraktijk 165 Dankwoord 173 Curriculum Vitae 175

11 Rathenau Instituut 9 Prologue My first experiences in academia are set against the background of the former agricultural University of Wageningen in the Netherlands. In the summer of 2001 I and 83 other freshmen and women had the pleasure of beginning our journey in the field of biology in one of the many old university buildings scattered over the small provincial town. We were among the last generations of students who began the day in a The New Building lecture hall with a lecture on evolution theory, cycled home for lunch and in the afternoon did microbiological experiments in a monumental Amsterdamse School building overlooking the legendary river forelands. For reasons related to efficiency and prestige, I assume, this idyllic picture has now been consigned to the past. The university, along with its staff and students, has left the heart of the city, as a brand new multi-million euro campus has been erected on the outskirts of the city. The campus is not only home to the university, but also hosts companies, public research institutes and a university of applied sciences. Wageningen University is far from unique in its quest for scaling and creating partnerships with other actors in the science and innovation system. Although I enjoyed most subjects, whether we were dissecting a shark to understand its anatomy or studying cell structures using an electron microscope, savoir pour savoir was not enough for me. I believe I wasn t the most popular student among teaching staff, as I would regularly raise my hand and ask: That is all very interesting, but what can we use this knowledge for? I can t remember getting a satisfying answer, which in hindsight indicates a discrepancy between the university s aspirations and the everyday practice of its employees. Interested in science and motivated to bridge science and society, I pursued my master s in the field of innovation studies at Utrecht University. Utrecht s campus showed what Wageningen s campus would look like in a few years: located outside the heart of the city, and sharing the site with a university of applied sciences and companies. Hoping to finally get an answer to my relevance questions as a biology student, I decided to explore the relevance of biology in my master s thesis. I discovered the intricate relationship between science and society and the influence they have on one another. Enjoying the process of doing research and fascinated by the interplay between science and society, taking the next step and applying for a position in a scientific environment seemed like the only logical thing to do. I decided to continue my study on the value of science for society, which by then was labelled valorisation in science policy spheres. Policy makers at government and university level considered valorisation as a way out of the knowledge paradox (Europe produces high-quality scientific knowledge, but lags behind in applying that knowledge). During recent years I have gained the insight that valorisation is a difficult issue for most academics, despite their willingness to contribute to society. Also, valorisation is a burdened issue for them, which seems to be related to its origin in policy spheres. Based on these insights, my interests gradually developed into a wish to understand the relationship between science policy and scientific practice as regards valorisation of scientific research. This dissertation is the result of my quest and an important step in sharing my results. The aim is twofold. As it is not obvious that scientists are aware of and understand science policy, the first goal is to contribute to the understanding of

12 10 Engaging Scientists - Organising Valorisation in the Netherlands how science policy translates to academic practice. Since valorisation is considered a difficult task by scientists, the second aim is to provide insights into how to improve valorisation of academic research.