Seweryn Krupnik

Evaluating the social mechanism of investment subsidies using an abductive approach

Investment subsidies are the most popular means of public support for enterprises. However, evaluation studies measuring their net effect suggest that their effectiveness is highly debatable. The social mechanism of investment subsidies has been investigated in the article with a flexible, abductive methodological approach. Both methodological and data source triangulations have been applied: qualitative and quantitative methods deployed; and viewpoints of manifold groups (policy-makers, beneficiaries, journalists) reconstructed. The article goes beyond previous findings indicating the small net effects of intervention by investigating the social mechanism accounting for the size of the effects. It also indicates that the permanency of the programme may be explained by the analysis of the programme theories of stakeholders involved in implementation.

Translational medicine and its perspectives in Poland

This article presents Translational Medicine (TM), one of today’s ‘buzz words’. Moreover, it seeks to identify the factors which stimulate or impede TM’s development in Poland, based on desk research and a series of expert interviews conducted in four countries. TM is a new trend in research and clinical practice. It stems from two sources: observation of how ineffective the traditional drug development process is, and from the public need for innovative therapies. Strategies developed within the translational approach optimize medical innovation development so that the chasm between impressive scientific discoveries and poor pharma productivity is filled. Our diagnosis shows that Poland is a minor player on the market of new technologies, particularly drugs. However, Polish scientists and industry do have a potential that will enable them to play major roles in international research teams that work on innovative, global projects.

Configurational Analysis in the Evaluation of Complex Public Programs: Application in the Area of Knowledge Transfer

The aim of the chapter is to present the lessons learnt from the application of the configurational method to the evaluation of the “SPIN” public regional program. The objective of this complex program was to increase the intensity of knowledge transfer (KT) between universities and enterprises. After pilot implementation of the Model, there was a huge need for an evaluation study which would provide recommendations relating to the enhancement of the success of the further applications. Comparative case study methodology was applied in order to cope with the complexity of the program. As a result of the analysis, three models of implementation were distinguished.