System-level insights into public funding of research from emerging economies

Funding scientific research requires adequate capabilities of funding entities to design and implement the instruments to channel those resources effectively. Furthermore, recipients of research funding must have the right attributes to use allocated resources in a way that achieves the objectives of the funding policies. The obviousness of these statements belies a relative lack of attention to the specific attributes and capabilities needed on both sides of the research funding equation. This chapter explores this issue by comparing four cases of emerging economy countries, two in South America and two in Central Europe. The cases show that, even in the presence of increased funding, the lack of proper capabilities and attributes of both funding and performing entities undermines their ability to achieve their scientific research potential. This challenge is also relevant to developed nations in their efforts to maintain their level of research performance.