After one year of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute’s (RNBI) activity, the Samuel Neaman Institute and RNBI initiated an evaluation study to map the various activities in nano-science and nanotechnology that were taking place at the Institute. The goal of the study was to examine the activity of the Nanotechnology Institute over time, and to estimate the results and the effects on the activity of the researchers at the Institute. This first survey was conducted during 2007. The present survey, which is the second one conducted, was intended to estimate the development of the nano area at the Technion and to examine the influence of the different programs, operated by the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, and the changes that occurred in the researchers’ activity in the nano area in the long term. Evaluation of the Institute’s activity is based on the results of examining the progress made in the various nano areas and the extent of the influence resulting from the Institute’s investments in these areas. On the basis of these evaluations, the Samuel Neaman Institute provided feedback to the RBNI directorate regarding its activities and programs during its five years of operation.
The major research tool used in this study is an evaluation survey. The survey was based on a comprehensive questionnaire that was administered to the active researchers at the Institute during 2009. We also used a bibliometric analysis of publications to evaluate the scientific outputs of the researchers’ activity in the Institute.
The findings of the evaluation survey are presented using qualitative, descriptive and inferential tools, which include a qualitative analysis and relevant statistics. In analyzing the empirical findings, special emphasis is placed on examining the differences between the results of the present survey and those of the survey of 2007.
A summary report of the survey results and the bibliometric analysis of publications on the subject of nanotechnology were submitted to the directorate of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute in 2010. The report serves as an internal management tool of RBNI.
