Draft Report of the Expert Group on International STI Cooperation to ...

The need for an evidence- and analysis-based
strategy
Promoting indicators and information
The EG sees information and data as a key resource to design and support defined elements
and objectives in a strategy. Hence information and data, and its sharing, is not an end in
itself, but a means to an end. For <strong>the</strong> design and implementation <strong>of</strong> an EU internationalisation
strategy as outlined above, systematic data and analysis must specifically support (1) priority
setting – as any strategic effort must make choices – and (2) <strong>the</strong> choice <strong>of</strong> partner countries
and regions for each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> priority areas (countries follow priorities, not <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r way
round). It thus (3) underpins negotiations within ERA (between MS and <strong>the</strong> Commission) and
with potential external partners and by doing so helps to create effective partnerships. It will
also develop a new focus on (4) supporting international innovative activities. This section
discusses <strong>the</strong> need and concepts for capturing data and information and for sharing it, with
<strong>the</strong> ends to support internationalisation <strong>of</strong> STI at EU level.
The nature and origin <strong>of</strong> relevant data and information is heterogeneous. Information is ei<strong>the</strong>r
mainly based on standardised data linked to clearly defined indicators or it is more qualitative
and idiosyncratic 20 . Underlying data can ei<strong>the</strong>r be collected centrally or it can be collected decentrally.
Finally, data and information can ei<strong>the</strong>r be shared and provided for all or it can be
done for specific, idiosyncratic purposes with limited value in sharing. The table below
summarises <strong>the</strong> different situations and highlights <strong>the</strong> basic principles for data collection and
information sharing.
Indicators
The basic rationale
Indicators must support <strong>the</strong> three stated and agreed overall objectives <strong>of</strong> an EU
internationalisation strategy for STI: streng<strong>the</strong>n STI competitiveness, tackle global challenges
and support external policies. Against this background, and in line with <strong>the</strong> main message <strong>of</strong>
our report, <strong>the</strong> starting point for all development and use <strong>of</strong> indicators must be <strong>the</strong> need for
indicator support for a European level STI internationalisation strategy. The starting
20 A short principle clarification as to what we mean by information, data and indicators: Information is needed to make
decisions. Information is based on data and indicators and interpretation. Data are values <strong>of</strong> defined variables,
quantitative or qualitative. In itself, data has no meaning, it must be interpreted, it is <strong>the</strong> raw material for indicators and
information. Indicators are measures that refer to a clearly defined and measureable parameter and signify a specific
phenomenon beyond <strong>the</strong> parameter that is measured. Indicators are necessary to qualify and quantify a certain
phenomenon, most <strong>of</strong>ten one indicator is not enough to do so, and indicators need to be interpreted with care (e.g. copublication
as one indicator for <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> cooperation, and it means different things in different scientific areas or
geographical regions). Information is data that is contextualised, with data brought into relations and interpreted
following certain interpretative frames, information carries meaning. Indicators support <strong>the</strong> translation <strong>of</strong> simple data
into information, but in itself are not enough. It is information that is <strong>the</strong> basis for action (Dasgupta and David 1992, 9),
not data or indicator itself.
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