The development of an R&D agend in Austrian universities of applied sciences (UAS)

Since the founding of the first UAS in Austria in 1994, the development of R&D activities as a distinct agenda has displayed significant differences with regard to funding, the development of R&D personnel and the formation of R&D profiles across the sector. Building on the concept of Regional Innovation Systems (RIS), this paper discusses appropriate funding schemes for R&D. Although such schemes are an essential factor, they are not sufficient for establishing UAS as significant R&D actors in innovation systems. Taking an approach from science studies, the concurrence of applied research, experimental development and basic research within the UAS sector suggest that the codificaton of knowledge and the standardization of R&D competencies may be key issues in the further academization of UAS.

30.03.2012 | Dietmar Paier (Wien)