Dutch research funding agency, paralyzed by ransomware attack, refuses to pay up

Summary Objective: To compare the discussions of two workshops held during 2001 by two Canadian organisations, HEALNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence for research in health information applications, and Genome Canada, a national research funding agency for genomics and proteomics, in collaboration with the Institute of Genetics of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to examine strategic research development in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics respectively. Methods: Invited workshops with structured debate. Concept analysis of preparative material and debates. Results: A predominantly common set of concepts was discerned from both workshops. Analysis of published definitions showed an inability to distinguish a definition that would suggest that health informatics and bioinformatics are separate disciplines. In both workshops there was evidence of deep concerns of identity, the lack of clear structures to support research funding as well as uncertainty in distinguishing between service and research. Conclusions: Many deep issues currently inhibit the recognition and funding of research in health and bioinformatics in Canada and elsewhere. Some of these issues are common to both health and bioinformatics. The overlap in prevailing definitions, research concerns and methodological content in the respective domains suggest that common research needs should be better identified and reinforced for the benefit of both.

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Between internationalising science and multilingualising knowledge

European Journal of Language Policy ◽

10.3828/ejlp.2021.6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 75-101

Author(s):

Laurent Gajo ◽

Gabriela Steffen ◽

Patchareerat Yanaprasart

Keyword(s):

Language Policy ◽

Scientific Knowledge ◽

Research Funding ◽

Research Evaluation ◽

Funding Agency ◽

Scientific Practices ◽

Academic Institutions ◽

Socially Responsible ◽

Linguistic Practices ◽

Research Funding Agency

This article raises the question of the conditions for the internationalisation of universities, its links with linguistic practices and its impact on the dynamics of scientific knowledge. First, it questions the notion of internationalisation, defined in a variable manner and affecting both institutions and knowledge. The links between internationalisation and language (non-)choices (monolingual or plurilingual) have been established. They challenge both the governance of universities and the implementation of curricula. Secondly, this article proposes a reflection on three major functions of language and discourse: communication, representation and contextualisation. It shows that policies in favour of monolingualism in science generally favour the function of communication. The importance of these functions varies, moreover, according to the nature of the scientific practices considered, more or less contextualised and more or less central for the development of knowledge. Third, the article looks at a study carried out within the framework of a national research funding agency in a multilingual country. It describes language practices in research evaluation across a variety of disciplines but focuses in particular on the representations of research advisers regarding the links between science and language(s). In conclusion, this article emphasises the importance, for academic institutions, to develop an explicit, socially responsible language policy that is aware of the consequences of decisions made along the entire educational chain.

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The Research Financing Act. A New Framework for Publicly Funded Research in Austria and its Impact on Evaluation.

10.22163/fteval.2021.514 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rupert Pichler

Keyword(s):

Research Funding ◽

Time Budget ◽

Funding Agency ◽

National Council ◽

Publicly Funded ◽

Technology And Innovation ◽

Research Technology ◽

First Time ◽

Research Funding Agency ◽

New Framework

On 7 July 2020, the National Council – the first chamber of the Austrian Parliament – passed a package of legislation introducing a new framework for the methods of allocating federal budgets to research, technology, and innovation (RTI). Its core is the Research Financing Act (RFA), complemented by several amendments to existing laws that are necessary for its implementation. Entry into force was on 25 July 2020, the amendments became effective as of 1 January 2021 (BGBl1. I No. 75/20202). The RFA is the biggest legislative project in the field of RTI policy since 2004 when the Research Funding Agency (FFG) was established (Pichler et al. 2007, pp. 329-336; Stampfer et al. 2010, pp. 775-776). For the first time, budget law regulations are now aligned with the needs of institutions performing or funding RTI (Pichler 2021). This article outlines the background and content of the RFA and concludes with a view on the significance of evaluation within the new system.

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