¿Hacia una segunda transición en la ciencia?: política científica y grupos de investigación

Resumen

In this paper we analyze the problems of science policy in Spain and mainly in its Basque region. The paper has three main parts. First, we discuss the problems of science policy in theoretical terms, and make some considerations about science policy in Spain. Then we look at regional science policy in the Basque Country (evolution, relationships with technology policy, role of main agents). Then we focus on the main result of such policies: the emergence of research groups, which are key agents in the production of knowledge. We look at the origin of groups, organization, strategies, and relationships with external agents (technology centres and firms). One main conclusion is that, even though some changes are taking place, in general university research still follows the «academic» or «von Humboldtian» model, quite far from «university-firms relations» and «new production of knowledge» rhetoric.