200 L. M. Dybdahl and E. J. Iversen
10.5 Human capital and researchers
We turn now to the question of the type of fields science researchers in the
bioeconomy represent. As discussed above, the CVs provide detailed information about the disciplines the researchers represent, their affiliation (university, research institute, private sector) and their seniority (professors, post- docs,
PhD students). This offers us a vantage point on the human capital that goes
into RD&I projects and so allows us to better understand the knowledge
bases that the bioeconomy builds upon. This section will review the sectors
of the economy, the fields of science and the types of research bioeconomy
research stems from.
10.5.1 Researchers
The 611 researchers who participated in funded Bionær projects in the period
were predominantly affiliated with research organisations. Almost 80%
stemmed from public research institutes (295) and from universities (188).
The following Table 10.2 provides an overview of the general characteristics
of the project participants by sector of employment. Two thirds of project
participants were male, although the share is higher in the HEI sector (77%)
and lower for PROs (61%).
Three quarters of the population held degrees from Norwegian universities. Of the 420 researchers for whom we have valid data, over 80% had
PhDs. One hundred researchers (of the 420) held degrees from abroad, where
the majority of degrees were from Sweden (19%), Denmark (14%), the UK
(12%), the USA (12%), Germany (9%) and Finland (6%).
The average year of birth was 1964, which means that the average age of
the researchers was 54 years. However, the average age of the whole bioeconomic research population as a whole is likely to be lower. One aspect that
will affect the CVs represented in the applications is the strategic or tactical
choices made during the application phase. Although the Bionær programme
plan states that the participation of young researchers is valued, it is not
unlikely that more experienced researchers will be considered a positive asset
for funding probability. As a result, there might be a biased representation of
the experience level among the persons in the application teams (limitations
are discussed further in the concluding section).
The breakdown does, however, reveal some interesting aspects of
ongoing research, development and innovation (RD&I) activities that focus
on the bioeconomy. It indicates that this economy involves a broad range of
sectors. Research institutes and universities lead the effort, but they work
together and with private enterprises as well as with the government sector.
In addition, over 25% of the 500 organisations that were involved are
located abroad. The share of PhD holders was higher than usual for
the sector. In part this reflects the point made above. What is perhaps
more interesting is that a large proportion of those PhD holders took their
10.5 Human capital and researchers
We turn now to the question of the type of fields science researchers in the
bioeconomy represent. As discussed above, the CVs provide detailed information about the disciplines the researchers represent, their affiliation (university, research institute, private sector) and their seniority (professors, post- docs,
PhD students). This offers us a vantage point on the human capital that goes
into RD&I projects and so allows us to better understand the knowledge
bases that the bioeconomy builds upon. This section will review the sectors
of the economy, the fields of science and the types of research bioeconomy
research stems from.
10.5.1 Researchers
The 611 researchers who participated in funded Bionær projects in the period
were predominantly affiliated with research organisations. Almost 80%
stemmed from public research institutes (295) and from universities (188).
The following Table 10.2 provides an overview of the general characteristics
of the project participants by sector of employment. Two thirds of project
participants were male, although the share is higher in the HEI sector (77%)
and lower for PROs (61%).
Three quarters of the population held degrees from Norwegian universities. Of the 420 researchers for whom we have valid data, over 80% had
PhDs. One hundred researchers (of the 420) held degrees from abroad, where
the majority of degrees were from Sweden (19%), Denmark (14%), the UK
(12%), the USA (12%), Germany (9%) and Finland (6%).
The average year of birth was 1964, which means that the average age of
the researchers was 54 years. However, the average age of the whole bioeconomic research population as a whole is likely to be lower. One aspect that
will affect the CVs represented in the applications is the strategic or tactical
choices made during the application phase. Although the Bionær programme
plan states that the participation of young researchers is valued, it is not
unlikely that more experienced researchers will be considered a positive asset
for funding probability. As a result, there might be a biased representation of
the experience level among the persons in the application teams (limitations
are discussed further in the concluding section).
The breakdown does, however, reveal some interesting aspects of
ongoing research, development and innovation (RD&I) activities that focus
on the bioeconomy. It indicates that this economy involves a broad range of
sectors. Research institutes and universities lead the effort, but they work
together and with private enterprises as well as with the government sector.
In addition, over 25% of the 500 organisations that were involved are
located abroad. The share of PhD holders was higher than usual for
the sector. In part this reflects the point made above. What is perhaps
more interesting is that a large proportion of those PhD holders took their