Coordination in the Dutch science system

During the past couple of decades, the Dutch science system has been enriched with a new generation of organizations that mediate between the government and funding bodies on the one hand, and research organizations on the other. This set includes temporary task forces, leading technological institutes and large innovation programs. An important function of this new organizational level is to create focus and mass by coordinating research. But if the intermediary level becomes too complex it may hinder coordination and steering.

The aims of this project are to acquire insight in the coordination role of intermediary organizations through empirical research, to develop a conceptual framework to better understand coordination in science, and to contribute to the policy debate about coordination in the Dutch science system.