Complexity of Evaluation Over Research and Development

Abstract

  Among the evaluating of the evaluating agencies activities in Japanese Government, Research and Development (R & D) is particularly difficult. This paper addresses the question of why the evaluating of R & D is difficult.

  First, based on the conduct and evaluating of R & D in science and technology policy, the relationship with other adjacent system, Japanese Policy Evaluation System (under Government Policy Evaluations Act, Act No. 86 of June 29, 2001), project review (since 2009), and performance measurement of the Incorporated Administrative Agencies. What is clear from this discussion is that there is confusion between the various systems and that the “concept of evaluation” is not so clear.

  The effectiveness debate is the biggest subject in the evaluating of R & D. This paper will emphasize the distinction between “top-down approach” and “bottom-up approach” in R & D and the difference between the terms of “technology assessment” and “evaluation”.

  The conclusion of this paper is the ambiguity of the evaluation concept.