Managing the Institutionalisation of Mode 2 Knowledge Production

The combination of decreasing public allocations to universities with relevance pressure
from both governments and private corporations has contributed to the rise of
the phenomenon of Mode 2 knowledge production. Many Mode 2 researchers have
been encouraged and stimulated to experiment with new forms of organizing the
production of knowledge while remaining within the context of the traditional European
university. This has resulted in the emergence of number of new institutional
formats including university based research centers or institutes and long-term research
programs have emerged. While there has been a lively debate about the transitions
in the landscape of knowledge production, it has failed to address its organizational
details. A detailed look at transition cases pushed forward by political programs
promoting knowledge exchange between university and industry shows that
the institutionalization of Mode 2 is accompanied by significant problems for the
management of research and the production of knowledge.

Keywords: Knowledge production, research management, university industry relation