Vol.4 No.1 2011

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Research paper : Formation of research strategy and synthetic research evaluation based on the strategy (N. Kobayashi et al.)−25−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.4 No.1 (2011) can be considered the “research evaluation = abduction and its expression”. This is closely related to the research that is a creative activity, and research evaluation can be considered to be part of this creative endeavor.To apply the synthetic evaluation to actual evaluation, some devising is necessary. This must be designed upon agreement by the three parties consisting of the research promotion group, research fund provider, and the research evaluator. While the proposal of the paper was not directly applied, a general evaluation was conducted in the example of “Evaluation from the viewpoint of outcome” that was conducted during the Second Mid-term Research Goal Period (FY 2005~2009) at AIST, by introducing the elemental evaluation of management evaluation, output evaluation, and roadmap evaluation that could be thought to be related to progress (X-axis), depth (Y-axis), and phase (Z-axis)[17]. However, it was not necessarily an elemental evaluation by comparison with the strategy as proposed in this paper. There was a lack of deep discussion with the evaluators, and it was still in a developing stage as a synthetic research evaluation. Specifically, it is necessary to design a general evaluation system including the incorporation of the constructive, deep discussion between the research promotion group and the evaluators, in addition to the elemental evaluation and appropriate synthesis.5 Example of the synthetic research evaluation5.1 Characteristics and issues of the research evaluation at AIST5.1.1 Evaluation from the viewpoint of outcomeIn the Second Mid-term Research Goal Period (FY 2005~2009) at AIST, “Evaluation from the viewpoint of outcome” was performed upon proposal of the Research Evaluation Investigation Committee (Chairman Rei Hirasawa) in 2004, to focus on the perspective of contribution of the R&D activities to industry and society[17]. In the process of design, 1) the roadmap evaluation, 2) the output evaluation, and 3) the management evaluation were set as the three items of elemental evaluation. The major part of the synthetic evaluation of this paper is the idea based on this experience. As written in chapter 4, 1) the roadmap evaluation corresponds to the Z-axis (phase) evaluation, 2) the output evaluation to the Y-axis (depth) evaluation, and 3) the management evaluation to the X-axis (progress) evaluation. Figures 7 shows the example of the input, output, outcome, and impact in the R&D at AIST as shown as the logic model related to research strategy formation.The research strategy at AIST is formed from both the top-down and the bottom-up viewpoints, as already mentioned[18]. The outcome is defined at the research unit considering the relationship with the strategy. Looking at the work at AIST from the viewpoint of outcome, of course, the main work is the R&D activity for the creation of advanced knowledge and technology, but the activity for outcome creation by providing the results to the external parties can also be positioned as important work. At AIST, the latter is called the innovation hub function[19], and an innovation hub strategy is established with the research strategy.5.1.2 Specific examplesAt AIST, the target to be achieved as the result of strategy formation is separated into seven items, and the R&D is conducted systematically by breaking down each target into the strategy target, strategic issues, and priority issues. The process from the strategic targets to the research unit issues is designed in a top-down style based on the external environmental factors such as the social demand and marketability, and on the internal factors such as the technological portfolio and strength of the core technology. On the other hand, the results expected from the R&D are designed in a bottom-up style, looking at the process from output to outcome in the R&D from the individual research issues.As a specific example, the “Research of biomarkers for brain cell functional molecules”, a topic of the Neuroscience Research Institute, AIST is explained. This research is characterized by the clarification of the molecular behavior of the ion channel, receptor, and intercellular cell-signaling molecules in neurological diseases, and the search and identification of the biomarkers that specifically recognize the functional proteins. The roadmap for this topic is shown in Fig. 8. The roadmap shows the chronological development of the technologies from the R&D conducted at AIST (search of the marker, functional evaluation, and sensing core technology), to the development of the diagnostic and prevention system of the cerebral disease (development of sensor, cerebral disease risk diagnosis technology) through collaboration with companies.The Evaluation Committee of the Research Unit is composed of external members (about five people) from universities, Fig. 7 Model of R&D and result diffusion at AIST・Establish research strategy and research plan・Create knowledge and technology・Bridging research・Industry-academia-government collaboration, venture, PR・Industrial human resource development …etc.Social lifeCompanies, government agencies, universities, etc.Activities of external organization・Economic impact Create and expand market Improve productivity Increase employment Increase ventures Increase GDB・Social impact Environmental preservation Solve resource and energy issues Organize infrastructure Prevent disaster Improve social consciousness Health Safe living Efficient living・Utilization in industry New product New manufacturing process Improve process Technology for new enterprise Quality improvement Acceleration of research Industrial human resource development International credibility・Utilization in policymaking New policies and new systems Use in disaster prevention policy Environmental policy・Contribution to society Contribution to network Enhance understanding of technology・Contribution to the academia Form new concept Advance knowledgeActivities of AIST・Budget・Staff・Device・Knowledge・Technology・Patent・Papers・Software・Database・Risk assessment report・Standard supply・National and international measurement standard・Standard・Geological mapsImpactOutcomeOutputInput

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