Working Apart Together

There are two major changes in contemporary research environments which underpin the current study: the first relates to the increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in research, not only as means of communication and collaboration, but also, and increasingly, as data, methodologies, and types of output of research fields. The second development refers to the increasing trend towards collaborative research in all formats: bottom-up collaborative endeavours, as well as institutionally instigated, top-down collaborations. The study focuses on new types of collaborations and aims at understanding their dynamics: episodic, international, interdisciplinary collaborations with contractual agreements between partners, a good example of which are Framework Programme (FP) collaborations funded by the European Commission. The study examines the dynamics of collaborative research in FP5 research collaborations, with a focus on the use of different media, and especially ICTs. It provides recommendations for research managers, and project officers alike.