Quality Criteria in the Technological Sciences

At a glance

The acatech POSITION PAPER presents the first ever set of quality criteria for the  technological sciences as a whole. They are directed at universities and other research institutions, research policymakers and research funding agencies. The key criteria are as follows:

• Publications are only of limited value for quantitative performance evaluation in the technological sciences.
• No distinction should be drawn between public and private funding when it comes to successfully secured third-party funding.
• Doctorates – often in collaboration with industry – account for a significant proportion of research. A high number of doctorates and postdoctoral qualifications should be evaluated positively.
• Licences are an indication that innovations have been successfully marketed and should therefore receive a higher weighting than patents.
• Participation in large, established research partnerships should be promoted.
• Innovation prizes indicate that the research in question has practical relevance.

Methodological approach

The quality criteria set out in the acatech POSITION PAPER are the result of a broad consultation process within the technological sciences. As well as representatives of the key technological science fields, the project group also included social scientists and humanities scholars engaged in research into the technological sciences. The interim findings were discussed by a wide group of experts and stakeholders from academia and industry.