Articles

Intrinsic Characteristics of Basic Research: With Focus on Horizontal Knowledge Transfer

Heyoung Yang, Sang-Ki Jeong, Hyuck-Jai Lee

Abstract

The paper studies the intrinsic characteristics of basic research. Its main purpose is to prevent a negative side effect, which is the possible distortion of the characteristics and the role of basic research, when both the reinforcement of innovation system effi ciency and the promotion of basic research are pursued simultaneously. Furthermore, the study clarifi es the role of basic research. Methodologically, we conduct a questionnaire survey and a paper citation network analysis. It turns out that the intrinsic characteristics of basic research can be explained by the uncertainty of reaching basic research results and the horizontal knowledge transfer. Our study also suggests that it is desirable to set the role of basic research, as the expansion of knowledge stock through both horizontal and vertical knowledge transfer, differently from that of applied research in the innovation systems.