Metrics of R&D Performance and Management of Public Research Institutes

The science sector, in some European countries, is doing a strategic restructuring due to budget cuts (e.g. Italy). Thus, the measure and evaluation of research performance (metrics) of its units (public research institute) is needed. General models to assess the R&D performance of a public research lab are presented here. The methodology uses the discriminant analysis and the results are two canonical discriminant functions (direct and Wilks methods) that could provide indications about the performance of research bodies. The functions are successfully applied to 200 public research institutes belonging to the Italian National Research Council. These functions are also tools for appropriate decisions and actions to improve research performance, especially by the more effective use of existing resources and for reducing the X-inefficiency. Some policy and management implications are discussed.