Comparison and Analysis of the Research Supporting Pattern in Think Tanks

• In Event: Social Studies of Politics: State Affect? 1

Abstract

With the continuous realization of improving the government's scientific decision-making, think tank play an important role in associate with the national governance system in order to guarantee the ability to govern. Excellent think tanks should take the responsibility of being the intelligence link between science, technology and society. In this research through literature review, visits and interviews of some well-known distinct think tanks such as the Royal Society, the National Research Council, Chinese Academy of Engineering, , Chinese Institute Fudan University, etc., the common and distinct characteristics in their operations and research supporting patterns are summarized. We classify these think tanks into three types: Channel platform, knowledge complementary platform and integrated platform. This paper also summarized the effective research supporting patterns that generated through daily experience in Chinese Academy of Science, which are firstly the fellows led and research supporting centres facilitated research supporting pattern, secondly research management pattern, thirdly academic service supporting pattern and lastly independent research based supporting pattern. The experiences and advice we draw from the comparison and analysis above are firstly the work procedures and system need further standardization. Secondly research topic selection should consider both decision-making demand and independent research in order to promote the fit between consulting results and needs of decision-making. Thirdly ensure that policy recommendations are integrated, impartial and scientific. Lastly we should pay attention to the communication of results and promote the social influence.
Keywords: Think Tank, Research Supporting Pattern,Governance Capacity

Authors

• Chunjie Liu, Institute of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Science

• Jianzhong Zhou, Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences

• Lu Zhao, Chinese Academy of Science