Trends in research input
Research institutions, though publicly financed, have been exposed to a growing
competition between each other. Permanent positions have been cut down, while a growing
share of money is third-party funded. As a consequence there is more fluctuation in
personnel, meaning less continuity, less possibilities to carry out long term research, less
inter-institutional permanent networks. In addition, inter-institutional competition grows.
Some faculties e.g. Developed systems of boni for successful third-party fund raising, peer-
reviewed publications etc.
There are multiple funding organizations and programmes , funding popular
themes at the same time, often without harmonization and often for a duration of 2 or 3
years – which is counterproductive in terms of achieving applicable solutions for the
emerging and existing challenges (Isermeyer 2014). The Science Council
published a survey on agricultural sciences in 2006 giving impetus to a process of
restructuring. Striving for a postulated profile some agricultural faculties have appointed
new professors from related fields of sciences (e.g. Molecular biology). In addition, the
reward system of higher education institutes is currently based on peer reviewed
publications as well as on acquired third-party funding.
As a consequence there is more
orientation towards basic research: successful basic researchers are appointed
professorships in agricultural faculties which were strong in applied science. Consequently,
training and education in universities is less practical; a tendency which is enforced by the
Bologna process.
EU Forecast
euf:ba18h:44/nws-01