Making research count: Norway and the OECD connection 1965-1980

Minerva

Volumn 45, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 365-387

  Benum, Edgeir ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF OSLO   (Norway)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 36649034214     PISSN: 00264695     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s11024-007-9064-9     Document Type: Article

References (126)

1. Science and the Policies of Governments (Paris: OECD, 1963);
2. Science, Growth and Society. A New Perspective (Paris: OECD, 1971);
3. Technical Change and Economic Policy. Science and Technology in the New Economic and Social Context (Paris: OECD, 1980).
4. This periodization is discussed in Eirikur Baldursson, 'The Elusive Frontier' (Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, Göteborg University, 1995), Chapter VII and Appendix 1.
5. The primary sources for this article are the archives of the Norwegian science policy agencies. A visit to OECD archives at the European University Institute in Florence in May 2006 found little additional information.
6. Jean-Jacques Salomon, in Muriel Le Roux and Girolamo Ramunni, 'L'OCDE et les politiques scientifiques: Entretien avec Jean-Jacques Salomon', La Revue pour l'histoire du CNRS, 3 (2000), 41.
7. For the early history of OECD science policy, see Salomon, op. cit. note 3;
8. Science and the Policies of Governments, op. cit. note 1, 14-41 ;
9. and Benoît Godin, Measurement and Statistics on Science and Technology: 1920 to the Present (London/New York: Routledge, 2005), 32-34.
10. Science and the Policies of Governments, op. cit. note 1, 25;
11. Fundamental Research and the Policies of Governments (Paris: OECD, 1966).
12. Riksarkivet (Norwegian National Archives - hereafter RA), Hovedkomiteen for norsk forskning (Central Committee for Norwegian Research - hereafter HK), Box 35, Folder without title, 'Vedtekter for Hovedkomiteen for norsk forskning' (Statutes for the Central Committee for Norwegian Research).
13. RA, HK, Box 19, Folder: Møte (Meeting) 3/66, Minutes, item 5.
14. RA, HK, Box 286, Folder: Ministerial Meeting on Science 1966, Notat (Note) of 24 January 1966;
15. RA, HK, Box 1, Folder without title, Meeting 1/1967, Agenda, Item 3;
16. RA, HK, Box 139, Folder: Regjeringens forskningsutvalg (Government Research Committee), Minutes of meeting, 9 November 1966;
17. RA, Norges almenvitenskapelige foskningsråd (Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities - hereafter NAVF), Fellessekretariatet (Main Office - hereafter FS), Ser. D, Box 529, HK to NAVF, 22 December 1966.
18. For an historical review of the systems approach, see Benoît Godin, National Innovation System: The System Approach in Historical Perspective (Montreal: Project on the History and Sociology of STI Statistics. Working Paper No. 40, 2007).
19. For more recent developments, see Charles Edquist, Systems of Innovation: Technologies, Institutions and Organizations (London: Pinter, 1997)
20. Bengt-Åke Lundvall, National Systems of Innovation: Towards a Theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning (London: Pinter, 1992);
21. and Richard R. Nelson, National Innovation Systems: A Comparative Analysis (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993).
22. In the Norwegian setting, social policy competed with economic policy throughout this period.
23. This supposed 'gap' was popularized by Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber's best-selling Le Défi Américain (Paris: Denoel, 1967).
24. Salomon, op.cit. note 3, 51.
25. Joseph Ben-David, Fundamental Research and the Universities: Some Comments on International Differences (Paris: OECD, 1968).
26. In a foreword, Alexander King agreed that it was harder for European than for American research institutions to adjust to 'the new needs of science'; that the 'technology gap' should be a main concern; and that the gap in fundamental research could be attributed chiefly to 'a series of structural inadequacies'. Cf. Godin, op. cit. note 4, 229, 298.
27. RA, NAVF, Ser. D, Box 538, Committee of Science Policy (CSP), 'Draft Report on the Promotion and Organisation of Fundamental Research, with particular reference to the Situation in Western Europe', 20 December 1967, 2.
28. RA, NAVF, Ser. D, Box 538, CSP, 'The Promotion and Organisation of Fundamental Research: Issues and Recommendations' (Cover note), 21 February 1968, 5.
29. RA, HK, Box 287, Folder without title, CSP, 'Draft Report on the Promotion and Organisation of Fundamental Research (Cover note)', 6 February 1968, 2;
30. RA, HK, Box 286, Folder: OECD, Third Ministerial Meeting on Science of the OECD countries, Statement by the Chairman of the CSP, 11 March 1968, 4.
31. RA, NAVF, Ser. D, Box 538, CSP, 'Draft Report on the Promotion and Organisation of Fundamental Research, with particular reference to the Situation in Western Europe', 20 December 1967, 22;
32. RA, HK, Box 286, Folder: OECD, Third Ministerial Meeting on Science of the OECD countries, 'Statement by the chairman of the Committee for Science Policy', 6.
33. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 538, 'Council Review of Science Policy, and Implications of the Third Ministerial Meeting of Science for the Work of the Organisation in the Field of Science and Technology: Note by the Secretary-General', 2-3.
34. Michael Gibbons et al., The New Production of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies (London: Sage, 1994).
35. For a critical discussion, see the special issue of Minerva, XLI (3), (2003).
36. The subject as is also discussed in Karl Grandin, Nina Wormbs, and Sven Widmalm (eds.), The Science-Industry Nexus: History, Policy, Implications, Nobel Symposium 123 (Sagamore Beach: Science History Publications, 2004), esp. Introduction; and contributions by Henry Etzkowitz, 'The Triple Helix and the Rise of the Entrepreneurial University', and Aant Elzinga, 'The New Production of Reductionism in Models Relating to Research Policy'.
37. CSP had its first meeting in Paris, 11-12 July 1966. HK was linked to OECD science policy agencies from January 1966.
38. See RA, HK, Box 19, Folder: HK møte (HK meeting) 3/66, 'Committee for Science Policy, Summary Record of the first session";
39. RA, HK, Box 19, Folder: HK møte (HK meeting) 1/67, Minutes of meeting, 14 September 1966;
40. RA, HK, Box 291, Folder: OECD seminar, HK director Erling Fjellbirkeland to the Ministry of Trade and Shipping, 15 June 1966;
41. and RA, HK, Box 286, Notat (Note) of 24 January 1966 by HK secretary Kjell Eide on the Second Ministerial Meeting.
42. RA, HK, Box 1, Folder without title, HK meeting no 1, 1967, item 1.4;
43. RA, HK, Box 19, Folder: HK møte (HK meeting) 3/67, item 5;
44. RA, HK, Box 291, Folder: OECD seminar, OECD to Norwegian OECD ambassador, 6 May 1966;
45. Cf. Problems of Science Policy, seminar held at Jouy-en-Josas (France), 19-25 February 1967 (Paris: OECD, 1967).
46. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 527, 'Utkast til en rammeplan for norsk forskning' (Draft for a General Plan for Norwegian Research), 20 July 1967; Melding nr. 1, Retningslinjer for norsk forskningspolitikk. (Report no. 1. Guidelines for Norwegian Science Policy), (Oslo, 1968);
47. RA, Kirke- og undervisningsdepartementet hereafter KUD, (Ministry of Church and Education), Ser. Db, Box 11, Hovedkomiteen for norsk forskning. Beretning 1965-1969 (HK, Report 1965-1969).
48. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 539, OECD, Reviews of National Science Policy, Norway, Examiners' Report. The confrontation meeting was held in 1969. The examiners singled out bio-medical research, the earth and atmospheric sciences, and materials science and technology as neglected fields.
49. RA, HK, Box 287, Folder without title, CMS(68)25, Introductory statement by Mr. H.P. Tschudi, Swiss delegate, at the Third Ministerial meeting on Science. The examiners apparently believed that the Lehrstuhl was characteristic of Norwegian universities; in fact, this was no longer the case. In the natural sciences, 'Americanized' curricula were introduced in the 1950s. For American influences on Norwegian social science, see Fredrik W. Thue, 'In Quest of a Democratic Social Order: The Americanization of Norwegian Social Scholarship' (Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Oslo, 2005).
50. RA, NAVF, Ser.D, Box 539, Minutes from preparatory meeting on OECD examination, 5 February 1969. Minutes from the 2nd preparatory meeting, 5 March 1969. 'Confrontation, 28th March 1969. Note to the members of the OECD delegation'. HK, Beretning, 1965-1969, op.cit. note 22, 21-23.
51. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 590, 'Strategier for norsk forskning' (Strategies for Norwegian Research) and 'Seminar om norsk forskningspolitikk varen 1968' (Seminar on Norwegian Science Policy, spring 1968). The University of Oslo was founded in 1811, and was by far the largest. The University of Bergen dates from 1946.
52. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 539, 'OECD Confrontation 28 March 1969'; and 'Til OECD-delegasjonens medlemmer' (Note to the Members of the OECD delegation).
53. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 105, Folders, Rådsmøte (Council meeting), 7-8 November 1962 and Rådsmøte (Council meeting) 6-7 November 1963, addressed by the chairman, Einar Molland. NAVF Annual Reports, 1962, 8-9 and 1963, 9.
54. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 105, NAVF, Annual Conference, 16 November 1966, Minutes, 4-5, 7-9.
55. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 590, Seminar on 'Forskningspolitiske problemer i norsk vitenskap og administrasjon' (Problems of Science Policy in Norwegian Science and Administration). The plan was to invite Professor Stefan Dedijer from Lund University as well. Salomon was unable to attend.
56. Stein Ugelvik Larsen and Nils-Petter Wedege (eds.), Seminar om norsk forskningspolitikk varen 1968 (Seminar on Norwegian Science Policy, Spring 1968) (Oslo: NAVF's utredningsinstitutt (Institute for Studies in Research and Higher Education, 1970), 3-6.
57. Thue, op.cit. note 24, 537-542;
58. Edgeir Benum, 'Forskning for velferd', (Research for Welfare), in Edgeir Benum et. al., Den mangfoldige velferden: Festskrift til Anne-Lise Seip (Many-Faceted Welfare: Festschrift for Anne-Lise Seip), (Oslo: Gyldendal, 2003), 254-262.
59. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 106, NAVF Annual Conference 1969. Address by the Chairman Otto Bastiansen, 11 December 1969.
60. Science, Growth and Society: A New Perspective (Paris: OECD, 1971), 16.
61. The Social Sciences and the Policies of Governments (Paris: OECD, 1966), 50-51.
62. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 542, OECD. Steering Group I, 'The Social Dimension of Science and Technology', 18 November 1974, esp. 3-13. Cf. Roger L. Geiger's description of The Research System (Paris: OECD, 1974)
63. in 'The Home of Scientists: A Perspective on University Research', in Björn Wittrock and Aant Elzinga (eds.), The University Research System (Stockholm: Almqvist and Wicksell International, 1985), 53-74.
64. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 543, Steering group III, 'Science Policy and the Future of Industrial Societies - a Strategic Approach', 18 November 1974, 36.
65. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Boxes 527, 528, Melding nr. 4, Forskningens organisasjon i Norge (Report no. 4, The Organization of Research in Norway) (Oslo 1971).
66. Tilleggsmelding (Additional Report) til Hovedkomiteens melding nr.4, 1 March 1972. Minutes from HK meeting in Bergen 23-24 October 1972. HK to director Sandbo, 27 March 1973. RA, HK, Box 35, Folder: HK Staten, Note on HK's work program 1974-1975.
67. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 107, NAVF Annual Conference 1973, address by Knut Helle, 15 November 1973.
68. RA, Sosialdepartementet (Ministry of Social Affaires), Ser. D, Box 8, 'Review of National Social Science Policies. Norway' (Paris, 3 December 1974), 19-20, 28, 45, 51, 53, 73-75, 79-80. The examination took place in 1975, but most of the work was done earlier. The OECD's rapporteur was Michael Pollak; the HK and other Norwegian agencies supplied background material.
69. RA, HK, Box 35, Folder: HK Staten. Ministry of Church and Education to HK, 25 June 1974.
70. RA, KUD, Ser. Db, Box 426, NAVF to KUD 22 May 1969 and KUD to NAVF 30 May 1969;
71. Cf. RA, KUD, Ser. Db, Box 426, 'Statsrådssak 5' (King in Council, Item 5), 28 November 1969;
72. and NAVF, Annual Report, 1969, 8-9.
73. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 106, Statements of the director A. Sandbo and of Nils-Petter Wedege in Joint meeting 23 March 1970.
74. NAVF Annual Report, 1971, 6-7;
75. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 527, Conference on Science Policy in Sandefjord, 9-11 November 1972, statement by A. Sandbo.
76. Rapport fra NAVFs forskningsseminar 1970 (Report from NAVF Research Seminar 1970), (Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1971), esp. 11-33.;
77. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 574, NAVF to KUD, 4 April 1970, 9 September 1970, and 8 February 1971.
78. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 572, NAVF to KUD 4 April and 9 September 1970.
79. Among the critics were the physiologist Johan B. Steen and the political scientist Johan P. Olsen, speaking at the NAVF's annual conferences in 1969 and 1971, respectively.
80. Thue, op. cit. note 24, 568-586.
81. The Research System (Paris: OECD, 1973), vol. II, 70, 79.
82. Edgeir Benum, 'Universiteter, akademisk integritet og kommersialisering' (Universities, Academic Integrity and Commercialization), Nytt Norsk Tidsskrift, 20 (1), (2003), 59
83. RA, HK, Box 289, Folder: Forskningsministermøtet (Ministerial Meeting) 24-25 June 1975. Evaluation of the Ministerial Meeting by HK Director, 4-5.
84. The archives document these changes, and Norwegian (and Nordic) reactions to them. Only a few, for the period 1974-1977, are mentioned here. OECD documents are reference by the code assigned to them. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Boxes 528, 542, OECD documents SPT (74)4, SPT (74)5, SPT (74)14;
85. 'Rapport fra møtet i komiteen for vitenskaps- og teknologipolitikk', Paris, 19-20 March 1974 (Report from the meeting of CSTP);
86. RA, HK, Box 67, Folder: CSTP 1975, OECD document SPT/MIN (75)11;
87. OECD, Forskningsministermatet (Meeting of Ministers of Science, 24-25 June 1975). Utkast til referat (Minutes)';
88. 'Notat OECD Arbeidsprogram (Note on OECD's working programme) 1976'; "Internt notat (internal note), CSPT's arbeidsprogram (CSTP's working programme) for 1976';
89. Notat om 1976-programmet for OECD's forskningspolitiske komité (Note on the 1976 programme of CSTP);
90. Rapport fra møtet i OECD's komité for vitenskaps- og teknologipolitikk (Report from CSTP meeting, Paris, 21-22 October 1975'); HK to Professor K. Oshima ,1 December 1975;
91. RA, HK, Box 67, Folder: 1976, OECD documents SPT(76)6, DSTI/D/76.206 and SPT/M(76)3;
92. Rapport fra møtet i OECD's forskningspolitiske komité (Report from CSTP meeting, Paris, 24-26 February 1976), esp. 4-5;
93. 'Utkast (Draft), 19-20 October 1976';
94. Referat fra den 15. sesjon i OECD's komité for forskningspolitikk (Minutes from the 15th session of CSTP 19-20 October 1976);
95. RA, HK, Box 68, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1. halvår (first half year) 1977, Notat fra møtet i OECD's forskningspolitiske komité (Note from CSTP meeting 24-25 May 1977), 11;
96. RA, HK, Box 68, Folder: OECD/CSTP 2. halvår (second half year) 1977, 'Rapport fra møtet (Report from meeting) i CSTP, 12-14 October 1977', 2;
97. OECD document SPT/M (77) 3.
98. The Case for Positive Adjustment Policies (Paris: OECD, 1979);
99. Technical Change and Economic Policy. Science and Technology in the. New Economic and Social Context (Paris: OECD, 1980).
100. RA, HK, Box 69, Folder: OECD/CSTP, 'Rapport fra OECD's komité for vitenskap- og teknologipolitikk (CSTP) 21. sesjon (Report from CSTP, 21. session), 10-12 October 1978; 7-8;
101. RA, HK, Box 69, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1979, Rapport. Utvidet bureaumøte (Report, enlarged bureau meeting) CSTP/OECD, 17-18 January 1979, 1-2.
102. RA, HK, Box 68, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1. halvår (first half year), 1977, Referat fra møtet i OECD's forskningspolitiske komite (Minutes from meeting of CSTP) in Paris, 9-10 February1977.
103. RA, HK, Box 68, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1/1-30/4 1978, 'Notat fra møtet i OECD's forskningspolitiske komité (Note from CSTP meeting 14-16 February 1978)', 3, 21-23.
104. RA, HK, Box 69, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1/5-31/12 -78, 'Rapport fra møtet i OECD's forskningspolitiske komité (Report from CSTP meeting 31 May-1 June 1978)', 1.
105. RA, HK, Box 69, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1/5-31/12 -78, 'Rapport fra uformelt møte (Report from informal meeting) CSTP byrå og BIAC's ekspertgruppe om teknologi, 9 October 1978';
106. ibid., 'Rapport fra CSTP 21. sesjon (Report from CSTP 21. session) 10-12 October 1978'.
107. RA, HK, Box 69, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1979, 'Rapport utvidet bureau-møte (Report from enlarged bureau meeting) CSTP/OECD 17 18 January 1979';
108. ibid., 'Rapport fra den 22. sesjon i (Report from 22. session of) CSTP, 27-28 February 1979';
109. ibid., 'Rapport fra 23. sesjon i (Report from 23. session of) CSTP 6-7 June 1979'.
110. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 108, Folder: NAVFs fellesmøte (Joint Meeting of NAVF) 29 May 1978, Chairman's address, 'NAVF's fremtid (The Future of NAVF)'; Stortingsmelding. (White Paper) 119 (1980-1981).
111. Stortingsmelding (White Paper) 35 (1975-1976), Om Forskningens Organisering og Finansiering (On the Organization and Financing of Research). The Norwegian presentation to the confrontation meeting on the social sciences stated that the government had, by this step, foreshadowed 'a stronger influence upon research policy than before'. Cf. RA, HK, Box 67, Folder: 1976, 'Utkast til norsk hovedinnlegg (Draft on Norwegian Presentation)'.
112. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 108, NAVF joint meeting 1978. Address by Director. Before 1977, forty-three of fifty-six of NAVF's members had come from the universities. Afterwards, academics were forty-three of 101.
113. RA, NAVF, Ser. D, Box 576, Director Anders Omholt to the Minister, Kjølv Egeland, 14 February 1979.
114. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 579, Notat (Note) of 12 June 1980.
115. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 528, NAVF to HK, 6 January 1977.
116. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. Ab, Box 109, Chairman's address at annual meeting, 3 June 1980.
117. Benum, op.cit. note 49, 59. This process, erasing borders between fields, would in the early 1990s lead to the creation of one research council for all Norwegian research, organized by research areas rather than by disciplines.
118. Cf. Hans Skoie, Norsk forskningspolitikk i etterkrigstiden (Norwegian Science Policy in the Post-War Era) (Oslo: Cappelen, 2005), 116-120.
119. RA, NAVF, FS, Ser. D, Box 491, the University of Oslo to NAVF 11 September 1975. RA, NAVF, Ser. D, Box 528, NAVF to HK 6 January 1977. RA, OB (Otto Bastiansen), PA (Private archives) 943, Ser. FA, Box 15, 'Grunnforskning, anvendt forskning og universitetenes rolle' (Basic Research, Applied Research and the Role of the Universities) - speech by Bastiansen, Miarch 1977;
120. Ibid, Bastiansen to a group of scholars, 18 April 1979 and note by Bastiansen - 'Grunnforskningens stilling' (The Conditions of Basic Research), 15 June 1979.
121. Norges offentlige utredninger (NOU) (Norwegian Official Reports) 1981, nr. 30A, 'Forskning, teknisk utvikling og industriell innovasjon' (Research, Technical Development and Industrial Innovation). This report resulted in a Report to Parliament from the Ministry of Church and Education (Stortingsmelding (St.meld.) nr. 54 (1982-1983). The Norwegian Official Report (NOU) 1981, nr. 46, 'Grunnforskningens vilkår i Norge' (The Conditions of Basic Research in Norway) was never presented in full to Parliament, but briefly summarized in a Report to Parliament on the development in the organization and financing of research (St.meld. nr 69 (1981-1982)). Cf. John Peter Collett, Historien om Universitetet i Oslo (The History of the University of Oslo), (Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1999), 234-236.
122. RA, HK, Box 69, Folder: OECD/CSTP 1979, HK til Utenriksdepartementet (HK to the Ministry of Foreign Affaires), 24 October 1979.
123. Ibid., 'Rapport fra den 24. sesjon av (Report from 24. session of) CSTP, 22 November 1979'.
124. Although the Labour Party was periodically out of power in this period, a 'Social Democratic Order' continued to dominate Norwegian politics.
125. For a discussion of hybrid organizations, see Werner Christie Mathisen, Universitetsforskeres problemvalg - akademisk autonomi og styling gjennom forskningsprogrammer (University academics and the choice, of research problems - academic autonomy and steering through research programmes), (Oslo: Utredningsinstituttet for forskning og hoyere utdanning (Institute for Studies in Research and Higher Education) 1997), 103.
126. See also Aant Elzinga and Andrew Jamison, 'Changing Policy Agendas in Science and Technology', in Sheila Jasanoff, Gerald E. Markie, James C. Petersen, and Trevor Pinch (eds.), Handbook of Science and Technology Studies (London: Sage, 1995), 572 -597.