The State University of Campinas (Unicamp) has been awarded a new project under the São Paulo Excellence Chair (SPEC), a research funding modality from FAPESP that aims to attract internationally recognized scientists working abroad to lead projects at universities or research institutes in the state of São Paulo. Rodrigo Costas, from the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University, will serve as the principal investigator of the Multi-Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation Dynamics (MultiObs). The project will be developed within the Department of Science and Technology Policy (DPCT) at the Institute of Geosciences (IG), in partnership with the School of Applied Sciences (FCA) and the Laboratory for Advanced Studies in Journalism (Labjor) at Unicamp.
Alongside the exponential growth in knowledge production, methods for measuring it have also advanced. However, the lack of precise self-monitoring mechanisms in science, technology, and innovation (STI) systems creates gaps in knowledge ecosystems, limiting the ability to respond to urgent social and scientific challenges. The project aims, over five years, to develop and apply methods to generate evidence and knowledge for broader and more effective monitoring of STI systems.
Current indicators rely heavily on closed databases that fail to capture the complexity of contemporary relationships between science and society. MultiObs proposes the development of a new analytical matrix that expands data sources and diversifies possible outcomes and interpretations. According to Costas, the initiative responds to urgent demands for changing how STI is measured, monitored, and evaluated.
A central ambition is to move beyond traditional databases such as Web of Science and Scopus, incorporating perspectives from stakeholders including funding agencies, industry, and policy organizations. The project promotes a co-created and context-sensitive monitoring framework, particularly emphasizing the Global South. It seeks to make visible scientific activities that remain underrepresented, especially in Latin America and other developing regions.
The program is structured like a tree: a foundational big data infrastructure supports thematic branches, which are integrated through a “living lab” focused on STI monitoring. This infrastructure will connect large-scale datasets to enable complex research queries, while thematic branches address specific policy challenges. The living lab acts as an experimental space combining data, theoretical frameworks, and participatory approaches involving stakeholders.
The project involves collaboration among seven principal researchers. Sérgio Salles-Filho will co-supervise the big data infrastructure and living lab with Costas. Other contributors include Cassidy Sugimoto, Adriana Bin, Ismael Ràfols, Germana Barata, Nicolas Vonortas, and Sérgio Queiroz, each overseeing thematic areas such as policy, funding, communication, and innovation dynamics.
According to Salles-Filho, the SPEC chair represents a substantial contribution to social studies of science, technology, and innovation, enabling the creation of open-access datasets and evidence-based analyses for stakeholders and society.
Expected outputs include a public cloud computing infrastructure, new indicators for complex and underexplored topics, educational materials, policy briefs, and academic publications. MultiObs brings together 13 associated researchers and multiple national and international partners, and will host conferences, workshops, and hackathons.