Institute for Research Information and Quality Assurance

The Institute for Research Information and Quality Assurance (iFQ – Institut für Forschungsinformation und Qualitätssicherung) was a non-university science studies organization based in Berlin, Germany. It operated from 2005 to 2015 and provided information and analysis on developments and transformations in the German and international science system, focusing on the conditions, prerequisites and consequences of research policy and research funding. The iFQ advised universities, research organizations and policymaking bodies at various administrative and governmental levels, combining research with service in its approach. The institute's work was organized into four fields of activity: evaluation and review processes; indicators, methods and bibliometrics; monitoring the German and international science system; and young researchers and careers. Its founding responded to a 1999 recommendation by an international commission evaluating the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Max Planck Society, which identified a lack of continuous monitoring of the German science landscape. Established in autumn 2005 as a so-called 'auxiliary research institution', the iFQ initially focused on studying the funding instruments of the DFG. After a successful evaluation, it entered its operational phase in 2010, and its mandate gradually expanded to generating empirical, theoretical and methodological knowledge about the functioning and framework conditions of science and research in an international context. Originally founded in Bonn, the institute moved to Berlin in 2011, where it contributed to the profile of science studies in the German capital through numerous local cooperation partners. It was a registered association (eingetragener Verein) and financed itself from various sources of public research funding at national and European level as well as through research and service contracts from non-public institutions. The iFQ was headed by sociologist Stefan Hornbostel. On 1 January 2016, the iFQ was integrated into the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (Deutsches Zentrum für Hochschul- und Wissenschaftsforschung, DZHW) as Department 2 'Research System & Science Dynamics'. The merger followed recommendations of the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) in its April 2014 position paper on the institutional perspectives of empirical higher education and science studies in Germany. The department continues the iFQ's work within the DZHW.

The founding of the Institute for Research Information and Quality Assurance (iFQ) traces back to the 'System Evaluation of the German Research Foundation and the Max Planck Society'. In 1999, an international commission appointed by the federal and state governments concluded that the German science landscape lacked 'continuous monitoring of the system'. The iFQ was founded in 2005 to address this deficit. Funded as a so-called 'auxiliary research institution', the iFQ initially concentrated on examining the funding instruments available to the German Research Foundation (DFG). After a successful evaluation of the iFQ, its work was transferred into an operational phase in 2010. Its mandate was gradually expanded to include the generation of empirical, theoretical and methodological knowledge about the functioning and framework conditions of science and research in an international context. The iFQ financed itself from various sources of public research funding at national and European level as well as through research and service contracts from non-public institutions. The iFQ saw itself as a central institution for science studies in Germany, which was still developing by international comparison. Since the institute, initially founded in Bonn, moved to Berlin in 2011, the iFQ contributed to the profile-building of science studies in Berlin together with numerous cooperation partners on site. The qualification of young researchers and participation in university teaching were fixed components of the institute's work. The iFQ was a registered association. On 1 January 2016, the iFQ was integrated into the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) as Department 2 'Research System & Science Dynamics'. The merger followed recommendations of the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) in its April 2014 position paper 'Institutional Perspectives of the Empirical Higher Education and Science Studies in Germany'.

• 2016

  On 1 January, iFQ is integrated into DZHW as Department 2 'Research System & Science Dynamics'.

• 2014

  German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) recommends merger in its April position paper.

• 2011

  iFQ moves from Bonn to Berlin.

• 2010

  After successful evaluation, iFQ enters operational phase and its mandate is gradually expanded.

• 2005

  iFQ founded in autumn as a non-university science studies organization, initially in Bonn.

• 1999

  International commission appointed by federal and state governments concludes that the German science landscape lacks continuous monitoring.

Non-university science studies institute providing research-based information, monitoring and advice on the German and international science system.

• Competence Centre for Bibliometrics

  Central to the 'Indicators and Methods' field, developing and analyzing indicators for monitoring the science system.

• Research information systems

  Database-supported information systems providing publicly accessible information on actors, projects, results and successes of German research.

• Monitoring of DFG funding activities

  Permanent observation and evaluation of the German Research Foundation's funding activities.

1. 1iFQ – Institute for Research Information and Quality Assuranceresearch-information.de
2. 2iFQ – About iFQresearch-information.de
3. 3Institute for Research Information and Quality Assurancewikidata.org
4. 4Institut für Forschungsinformation und Qualitätssicherungde.wikipedia.org