The effects of investments in research infrastructures of higher education institutes: Evidence from Poland and Czechia
基于捷克和波兰2007-2013年欧盟凝聚力基金资助的大型数据集，使用模糊集定性比较分析（fsQCA）探究研究基础设施投资对高校科研产出、科学家数量和合作的影响，识别出5种有效投资路径。
Investments in research infrastructures (RIs) enable universities to enhance scientific excellence, internationalization and industrial collaboration. The study leverages a unique, large dataset of RIs funding awarded to higher education institutes (HEIs) in Czechia and Poland, based on EU cohesion funds, 2007–2013. Both countries benefited from disproportionally high shares of funding allocated to RIs in this relatively short period. The study analyzes the effects of RIs funding for HEIs, including the counts of publications, publishing scientists and collaborations with scientific and industrial partners. It uses the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore conditions necessary and sufficient to accomplish the expected outcomes. fsQCA identified equifinal pathways for large/small, generalist/specialized universities, health and life science / physical science and engineering infrastructures as well as levels of regional economic development. The results revealed 5 distinctive approaches that HEIs might adopt while investing in RIs, depending on existing configurations of organizational and environmental variables that influence the effectiveness of RIs funding. The findings offer valuable insights for policy makers and HEI management considering how to optimally allocate funds for RIs. • Investments in research infrastructures (RIs) at universities boost publications, active scientists and collaborations • fsQCA identified RIs strategies for higher education based on size, scope, specialization and regional circumstances • Equifinal pathways for large/small, generalist/specialized universities, different science fields and regional GDP levels • Research using large datasets of EU-funded projects in Czechia and Poland, economies with high shares of RIs funding