Comparison between Social Network Analysis of 7th Framework Programmes on ICT and Energy Projects

Abstract

Science, technology, and innovation networks gain momentum in the policy agenda of the member states of the European Union. Policies to strengthen research, innovation, and deployment activities mainly based on public funding. Besides public funding, suggesting strategic policies are important to strength joint project networks in order to create competitive power. This study aims to conduct social network analysis for 7^th framework programmes to investigate network performance of countries among energy and ICT projects and to analyze key actors in terms of organization type, contractor type, country and funding of projects. Recent studies conducted to investigate whether project size and network position is related with network performance. However, none of which considers the time span of progress also, they are conducted in project level. This study will fill the gap the evolution of network performance in different framework projects, additionally provides research in both country, organizational type, contractor type level by exploring the ties between participants in depth analysis technique. Using a large number of data provided form CORDIS database publicly², social network analysis methodology will be conducted by using Pajek to examine the network structure and performance 7^th framework programmes based on ICT and energy projects and explore the relations between participants in the network. After the analysis, the study will be novel in terms of suggesting strategic network policy to enhance the network performance of countries and organization types in order to strength the competitive power of projects in European Commission.