Determinants of Scientific Productivity in Peruvian Public Research Institutes: A Multiple Case Study

Castro-Abad J.J.; Hernández-Cenzano C.G. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.2378

Resumen

Public Research Institutes (PRIs) are part of national innovation systems and perform functions that extend beyond academic research, including technological services, regulation, policy support, and technology transfer. In emerging economies, these institutions are expected to respond to scientific and productive priorities while operating under resource constraints and institutional instability. This study examines the determinants of scientific productivity in three Peruvian PRIs: the Instituto Peruano de Energía Nuclear (IPEN), the Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP), and the Instituto Tecnológico de la Producción (ITP). A mixed-methods multiple case study design was applied, using 15 semi-structured interviews with researchers, managers, and technical personnel, complemented by documentary analysis, thematic coding, ordinal scoring, and cross-case comparison. The qualitative evidence was organized through a 1-5 scale, interpreted as a comparative valuation of influence, and triangulated with institutional information on research outputs, projects, cooperation mechanisms, and technological activities. The evidence suggests that scientific productivity is shaped by the interaction between internal capacities and external conditions. Internally, infrastructure, qualified human resources, access to scientific information, and organizational governance affect the continuity and quality of research work. Externally, competitive funding, institutional stability, science and technology policy, and cooperation networks influence the ability of PRIs to sustain and expand research output. The study proposes an analytical framework for assessing productivity drivers in PRIs with hybrid mandates. The analysis indicates that research careers, funding continuity, governance mechanisms, and institutionalized collaboration are central to improving the performance of public research organizations in Peru.

Instituciones: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú