Carry out frontier research on indicators and methods on trends and dynamics of scientific and technological knowledge production, its connections with the use of knowledge through innovation and its consequences on society – this is the focus of the project that is part of a theme that has been developed in several countries: the research of research and innovation.

This is a project supported by Fapesp, subsequent to previous projects focused on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) indicators in São Paulo. The novelty is the development and application of analysis, evaluation and measurement methodologies, with work on the frontier of knowledge of what has been called “research on research” or “science of science policy“.

The expansion of the concept of excellence to highlight research carried out with quality and scientific rigor and the search for indicators and methods of impacts beyond the scientific and technological sphere have driven a movement of diversification and creation of evidence of impacts in multiple dimensions, which increasingly influence the guidelines and practices of funding agencies, research and higher education organizations and government agencies.

The project results will have three main focuses:

a) Support the planning of research, development and innovation (RDI) policies and strategies for the benefit of society;

b) Measure and understand the research impacts; find opportunities to increase these impacts for a better world;

c) Demonstrate and promote the positive effects of investment in STI and how to systematically improve them.

The movement to diversify and create evidence of impacts in multiple dimensions is a no turning back trend. The need for qualified information as a result of funding for basic and applied research, in various dimensions, sectors and matters of general and specific interest to society, has been observed especially in funding agencies, universities, research organizations, government agencies, legislative bodies and control bodies.

Funding agencies around the world have implemented specific programs to develop and promote tools necessary to plan, respond and integrate into public policies and strategies the dynamo of S&T progress that continually shapes the world because they understand that investment in STI is a source of powerful social transformation and economic development.