Sharing research tools in academia: the case of Japan

Sotaro Shibayama and Yasunori Baba

Science and Public Policy, 2011, vol. 38, issue 8, 649-659

Abstract: This study examines the sharing of research tools among academic scientists in the life sciences and materials sciences in Japan. First, this study investigates material transfer, or the sharing of research tools, based on individual-level negotiation. Statistical analyses suggest that supplier-side scientists decide whether or not to fulfill requests for material transfer on the basis of: expected return from consumer-side scientists (e.g., co-authorship), previous collaborative relationships, and the likelihood of scientific competition. Although studies in the US have indicated that the trend of academic capitalism or commercialization deters material transfer, our results show limited negative impact in this regard. Second, this study examines the use of central repositories of research tools as a means to the wider dissemination of such tools. The results suggest that entrepreneurial scientists and scientists in public research organizations are more willing to provide their research tools through this publicly accessible system. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Date: 2011
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