A Shift in Our Thinking: Reframing Shared Research Resources as Investments in Education and Innovation, Not Subsidized Science

Abstract

For many researchers, Shared Research Resources are often the most cost-effective means of using state-of-theart (not to mention expensive) instrumentation. Along with access to the instruments themselves, Shared Research Resources also offer individualized training by highly qualified Shared Research Resource staff— again at deeply discounted costs compared to the operational costs of the facilities. Traditionally, this gap in revenue has been termed a subsidy. But, as with many words, connotation matters, and we posit that this language ought to be changed to reframe our thinking and impart the true impact of Shared Research Resources. We argue here that rather than a subsidy, the revenue gap is better described as an investment. Furthermore, investments of Shared Research Resources lead to positive externalities, including education and innovation.