OST

The Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques (OST) is a Public Interest Group (GIP) dedicated to the conception and the production of quantitative indicators and analyses on research and development (R&D). OST has a quality accreditation ISO 9000 : 2001 for its methodologies and production processes.

OST indicators are related to financial, human resources, scientific publications, patents, and participation in the European framework programmes. They are produced from a very large relational database including national and international data, built and maintained from its very beginning in 1990.

OST produces each two years a report “Science & Technologie - Indicateurs” on regional, national, European and international Indicators for RD&I and their evolution (the latest edition, December 2008, can be downloaded at www.obs-ost.fr ).

Both the OST Report and database are partly co-funded by the main French ministries and public research organisations : the ministries in charge of Research, Industry, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Equipment; the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the National Institute for Agriculture Studies (INRA), the 46

National Institute for Medicine and Medical Studies (INSERM), the Institute for research in Informatics and Automatics (INRIA), the Institute for Research for Development (IRD), the Center for Agronomic Research for Development (CIRAD), the Commissariat for Atomic Energy (CEA) and the French Agency for Space Studies (CNES), and two associations : the National Association of Technological Research (ANRT) representing private companies and the Conference of the Presidents of Universities representing universities.

In addition OST carries out, on a private contract basis, various studies which contribute to the analysis of science and innovation policies at a regional, national, European and world wide scale, allowing S&T policy decision-makers to gain a better understanding of research policies and strategy. It is also involved in consultancy and training activities. Its main customers are French ministries, research institutions and regional authorities.

OST produces, by contract, scoreboards for most of the French HEIs and PROs, aimed at strategic evaluation, positioning and performance follow-up. OST’s institutional indicators are used for benchmark and classification studies.

OST also has high-level research activities in the fields of quantitative indicators and their use, bibliometrics, public policies and international R&D comparisons.

OST is member of ENID (the European Network of Indicators Designers), EUROLIO (the European Localized Innovation Observatory), as well as of the scientific consortium IFRIS (Institut Francilien “Recherche, Innovation et Société).