Setting the agenda for science and technology in the public sector: the case of international agricultural research

Abstract

Establishing priorities for R&D in the public sector is a complex and sometimes bumpy procedure. The juxtaposition of the political and scientific worlds can leave substantial gaps in perceptions. These may be spanned by ‘boundary’ organizations, which seek to reconcile the wishes of those who provide the funding (patrons) with the opportunities offered by the scientific community (performers). While this process is usually conducted at the national or sub-national level, it is increasingly needed at a more global level. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research has long bridged the line between donors and a number of research centers which seek to combine science with practice for the benefit of developing nations. The experience of this group is reviewed in the context of supply- and demand-driven research as represented, respectively, by the scientific community and users/stakeholders.