A fundamental problem in the field of social studies of science is why nations produce scientific achievements. Many studies have analyzed characteristics of science and scientific research. However, the motivations of nations to produce scientific research are elusive. Firstly, this study...

We analyze a competitive research-oriented public program established in Spain, the Ramon y Cajal Program, intended to offer contracts in public research centers to high-quality researchers. We study the effects of the Program on the ex-post scientific productivity of its recipients, relative to...

In recent decades firms have intensified the exploration of external sources of knowledge to enhance their innovation capabilities. This paper presents an empirical analysis of the factors that affect the importance of academic knowledge for firms’ innovative activities. An integrated approach...