Attracting serendipity: the impact of investment at the science/technology Interface in fundamental physics research Infrastructures

A key question in science policy is that of the impact of large-scale basic science facilities. The ATTRACT project provided a suite of resources, including funding, networks, and skills development support, to 180 technology projects that aimed to commercialize technologies that have emerged from research infrastructures. To assess the impact of ATTRACT, a case study analysis examined the ways in which support offered through ATTRACT phase 1 led to impacts such as strengthened innovation ecosystems, commercial applications of innovation, skills development, and broader social goods. The analysis of socio-economic impact leads to conclusions and recommendations in three broad areas. The first area is that of routes to impact, including the roles of RIs and businesses, the role of open innovation, and impacts that fall beyond innovation. The second area is that of technological serendipity, and the efforts of ATTRACT to systematize mechanisms that may support it. Finally, we reflect on CASEIA as a pilot study, and consider its potential contribution to research at the science/technology interface, and make methodological recommendations for ATTRACT’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts.