The Expertise Centre for Research and Development Monitoring is an inter-university consortium (KU Leuven, UGhent, VUB, UAntwerp and UHasselt) that maps the Flemish R&D and innovation landscape for the Flemish government (https://www.ecoom.be/).

Within UGent, ECOOM studies three themes.

ECOOM HR in R&D

ECOOM HR in R&D monitors both academic careers and non-academic careers of PhD holders. As concerns  academic careers, we focus on both performance and well-being of  junior researchers, PhD students, postdocs and professors (e.g., obstacles and success factors in research, job satisfaction, turnover intentions, entrepreneurship), always taking into account gender and diversity, job- and employment characteristics, and work organisation. As for non-academic careers of PhD holders, we focus on career dynamics and on labour and employment characteristics (e.g. remuneration, work-life balance, opportunities for promotion, perception of PhD holders). We do so from a multi-stakeholder perspective: researchers, universities, non-academic employers and the government. We monitor based on our own administrative data (Human Resources in Research Flanders database), targeted surveys (Survey of Junior Researchers, Survey of Senior Researchers, PhD career track survey, Survey of Employers), and in-depth interviews. Where possible, we benchmark with other knowledge regions or with other professional groups within Flanders. All research findings of ECOOM HR in R&D are made available for all stakeholders via short ECOOM-briefs.

ECOOM Inno Ghent

ECOOM Inno Ghent maps the digitalization of Flemish companies. This is done through an annual survey of a representative sample of approximately 2,000 companies. The survey’s focus alternates between (1) the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and (2) cybersecurity (CS). The data collection examines the use of AI technologies and cybersecurity technologies and solutions, the barriers or obstacles companies face in implementing these solutions, the external actors that guide or support them in the implementation, and the impact they experience. The results of this survey are published respectively in the AI Barometer and the CS Barometer. The collected data is also used for further research.

ECOOM Entrepreneurship Ghent

ECOOM Entrepreneurship Ghent regularly produces indicators of entrepreneurial culture and entrepreneurial activities in Flanders. A survey of approximately 1,000 residents explores, among other things, perceptions of entrepreneurship, the extent to which entrepreneurship is considered a viable career choice, and motivations and barriers for entrepreneurship. Secondly, the team biennially maps sustainable entrepreneurship in Flemish SMEs through a large-scale survey of approximately 1,500 companies. The Sustainability Barometer investigates the knowledge, drivers and barriers of sustainable entrepreneurship, the sustainable goals, and the implementation and impact of sustainable behavior in Flemish SMEs. Thirdly, the researchers, together with ECOOM Entrepreneurship Antwerp, conduct policy-supporting research to stimulate student entrepreneurship in Flanders. Through the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS) and a Flemish panel database, they collect data on students' entrepreneurial intentions and activities, enabling policymakers to align their strategies with the evolving student entrepreneurship landscape. The collected data are also used for further research.