Assessment of scientific programs: a necessary procedure for Brazilian scientific policy - the Young Investigator Program of the State of São Paulo Research Foundation

Abstract

Programs of Science and Technology research have grown significantly in Brazil over the last decades. Until the 1980s the so-called undirected programs, without specific goals and requiring only scientific merit, prevailed. The few programs with defined goals in this period were never objectively assessed. The same situation occurred in developed countries. In the early 1990s, the assessment of programs supported by public funding became mandatory in US and some European countries. In Brazil, program assessment has so far not been implemented yet. The Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa no Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) (Brazilian funding agency) Young Investigator (YI) Program is in its eleventh year, with approximately eight hundred projects awarded. Although it is free-demand based as concerns areas of knowledge, it has specific goals : (1) conceding grants to YI in view of the balance between funding, merit and real needs so as to enable satisfactory working conditions in the short term, (2) providing priority for institutions with a less extensive background in research, (3) granting a special fellowship to YI with no employment connection and (4) introduction of new research fronts in centers with a sound research background. This assessment provided evidence for the achievement of first three goals. The fourth one is still pending on additional data requiring survey assessment. Actions in this direction are recommended.

Multidimensional evaluation of a program for early-career researcher in Brazil - the Young Investigator in Emerging Centers program

“…Comparisons among countries related to academic pathways to reach a professorship, or even about doctors' employment opportunities, are always hard to do since academic relationships, educational systems are very different and presents political and cultural aspects. 2 Results found in this evaluation evidence that YIEC has reached some of targets, mainly concerning the research activity in private institutions. This program was a very important instrument to create the basic infrastructure for research activities in this type of HI opening new opportunities to recent doctors.…”

“…This paper intends to present main results from an external evaluation of this program, covering a period from 1996 to 2006. This evaluation seeks to complete a first one done by Pian and Menegini [2].…”

“…In Germany, the Emmy Noether Program also tries to fund excellent young researchers in postdoctoral phase as an alternative path to the traditional way to reach professional qualification[8]. Comparisons among countries related to academic pathways to reach a professorship, or even about doctors' employment opportunities, are always hard to do since academic relationships, educational systems are very different and presents political and cultural aspects 2. Results found in this evaluation evidence that YIEC has reached some of targets, mainly concerning the research activity in private institutions.…”