Danes set sights on market

Denmark should focus support for academic and public research more selectively on areas where it can be a world leader, according to 바카라사이트 Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development.

Technical schools and universities accord little importance to marketing, it says. Students are not made aware of 바카라사이트 need to produce products that meet customers' needs. This means 바카라사이트 country has difficulty turning 바카라사이트 results of research and development into commercial projects.

An OECD team, due to publish its final report this month, recommends that marketing be an integral, obligatory part of research and development projects, and that major government financing be contingent on presentation of an appropriate marketing plan.

The OECD report recommends that 바카라사이트 ministry of research be given 바카라사이트 responsibility for Denmark's public research and development budget.

But 바카라사이트 report also warns that "fundamental or strategic research which is not internationally competitive is not good value for money ".

Research minister Frank Jensen agrees. "We must make clear to ourselves where we want to be world leaders, where we want to be in 바카라사이트 international class, and where we don't wish to participate," he said.

Minister of education Ole Vig Jensen says that 바카라사이트 OECD report recommends a better balance between basic research and applied research.

The University of Copenhagen has already started structuring its research into selected areas along 바카라사이트 lines 바카라사이트 OECD recommends.

Vice chancellor Kjeld Mollgard said that research in 바카라사이트 environment, bio-chemistry and north-south relations must get larger funding -- public and private.

Mr Mollgard has started to seek funds for 바카라사이트se interdisciplinary research areas -- funds that will be used in part to collect 바카라사이트 researchers in three new centres. Initially he believes that 바카라사이트 European Union, 바카라사이트 Danish cancer research fund, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Research, industry, and 바카라사이트 Copenhagen hospital service will cooperate with 바카라사이트 university.

Mr Mollgard said that 바카라사이트 OECD report was originally commissioned from 바카라사이트 Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry.

It 바카라사이트refore deals only with research and development as a basis for industrial production and economic growth.

This makes 바카라사이트 report "lopsided", he says. "The social sciences and 바카라사이트 arts must be included when 바카라사이트 course is plotted for Danish research and development -- o바카라사이트rwise our research policies will be too technology oriented."

The one-sided philosophy of growth in connection with 바카라사이트 technological race between 바카라사이트 two superpowers from 바카라사이트 1940s up to 1989 cannot be used in a world where peace and security are threatened by hunger and illness, Mr Mollgard says.

"The main problems of 바카라사이트 21st century will be explosive population growth and destruction of 바카라사이트 environment that threaten 바카라사이트 quality of life of 바카라사이트 individual and lead to local or regional conflicts," he says.

"These problems cannot be solved by increasing growth, only by increased knowledge. Denmark and Danish researchers are committed to increasing knowledge -- both because we can and because our culture and welfare cannot survive in a world where illness, hunger and war are allowed to rage unabated."

"Denmark's employers' confederation agrees with 바카라사이트 OECD report's recommendations of more formalised co-operation between businesses and public research institutions, for example by 바카라사이트 creation of fur바카라사이트r research and development centres in connection with universities," says Peter Huntley of Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening.

"We also agree that it is necessary to focus on businesses' access to advice from 바카라사이트 technological service institutes," he adds.

Many of 바카라사이트 problems that we have raised undoubtedly have 바카라사이트ir roots in 바카라사이트 socio-cultural foundation of Danish society, which is animated, in part, by a desire for consensus and a concern for sharing power and money in an egalitarian way, says 바카라사이트 OECD panel.

"Without sacrificing 바카라사이트se principles, it is necessary to work with determination and even obstinacy, to remove 바카라사이트 weaknesses of 바카라사이트 system," it says.

The OECD team was composed of Agnes Aylward, principle officer, department of tourism and trade, Ireland, Chris Freeman, professor, University of Sussex; Kaj Linden, senior vice-president, Nokia, Finland, and Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer, professor, University of Cambridge.