Abstract:
In low-income countries Research and Development funding is limited and
has to be invested with a view of optimum return, both economic return
but also “softer” benefits such as human resource development. The assessment
of these benefits is therefore important for the long-term sustainability
of research and development programmes. Outputs from research and development
in roads and transport are often not hard products aimed for the
consumer market, but also include new design methods and techniques
to enhance the performance of the transport system that cannot be easily
quantified with benefit cost analysis alone. The article discusses the development
of a framework for the monitoring of the performance of the South African National Roads Agency Research & Development Programme. The
framework consists of a Balanced Score Card and a proposed set of indicators
that address benefit throughout the innovation value chain.
