Network Analysis of EU-Funded R&D Collaboration in the European Security Research Programme: Actors and Industries

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the EU-funded research collaborative networks formed in the European Security Research Programme (ESRP), a €1.4 billion component of the 7th EU Framework Programme. In particular, the ESRP has the twin objectives of enhancing public safety through the development of security technologies and fostering the growth of a globally competitive European security market. Social network analysis is employed to investigate network structure and dynamics and examine the role of the participating organizations over a 7-year period. Empirical results suggest that this kind of networks is highly connected, structured around a core of key actors which are mainly large-sized firms, prestigious universities and research centers. Networking activity seems to be enhancing specific research collaboration patterns among actors with diverse technological backgrounds, scale and scope. Therefore, an important policy implication is that EU collaborative networks may significantly contribute to the formation of technology fusion, one major source of contemporary innovations in fields such as security and defense.