New roles and strategies of a research council: intermediation of the principal-agent relationship

Research councils have mediated the principal-agent relation between government and science: they are expected to mediate the political and policy interests in scientific research into the world of science and technology and promote the interests of science and technology in the policy world. Traditionally, research councils managed this ambiguous position by funding peer-reviewed research projects. Changed ideas about the role of science in our society have challenged them to develop new policy instruments and reconsider their position in relation to science, policy and society. This new position is analysed through a study of the six divisions of the Norwegian Research Council, which display differences in the extent to which they have developed strategies in their own terms rather than those of other parties.