Information systems for the improvement of agri-food research: an overview on current research information systems

The goal of the paper is to analyse the role of existing research information systems with particular reference to the following functions: improve international co-ordination and cooperation; transparent research financing; better linkages between research and innovation. In particular the different structures and contents of a sample of agricultural research projects databases is analysed and compared. The Common European Research Information Format (CERIF) is adopted as a base for comparing the selected information systems. The analysis shows a low degree of similarity between the sampled databases compared with the CERIF format. The data elements concerning project inputs (funding and quantity of personnel involved), record updating, and research results are the less covered topics.