The relationship between the distribution of research funding and scientific performance is a major discussion point in many science policy contexts. Do high shares of funding handed out to a limited number of elite scientists yield the most value for money, or is scientific progress better supported by allocating resources in smaller portions to more teams and individuals? In this review article, we seek to qualify discussions on the benefits and drawbacks of concentrating research funds on fewer individuals and groups. Based on an initial screening of 3,567 articles and a thorough examination of 92 papers, we present a condensation of central arguments. Further, we juxtapose key findings from 20 years of empirical research on the relation between the size of research grants and scientific performance. Overall, the review demonstrates a strong inclination toward arguments in favor of increased dispersal. A substantial body of empirical research also exhibits stagnant or diminishing returns to scale for the relationship between grant size and research performance. The findings question the rationale behind current funding trends and point toward more efficient ways to allocate resources. In addition, they highlight the need for more research on the interplay between science-internal mechanisms and policy priorities in accelerating concentration of funding.
This article outlines the evolution of a national research funding system over a timespan of more than 40 years and analyses the development from a rather stable Humboldt inspired floor funding model to a complex multi-tiered system in constant flux. Based on recent contributions to Historical Institutionalism it is shown how the system has changed gradually along a number of dimensions through layering-and displacement processes and how the sum of mainly minor adjustments over time has led to a radical transformation of the funding system as a whole. It is also shown that the traditional academically oriented research council system has been remarkable resilient against far-reaching restructuring attempts. This change resistance has, however, on several occasions led the political system to implement change through other funding channels which for prolonged periods of time has made the councils somewhat marginalized.
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