Contracting Out of Science and Technology Services

Abstract

This article deals with contracting out of civil science and technology services. Implementation of Canadian government programs in conservation and renewable energies is analyzed, as are characteristics ofpublic sector demand in relation to the choice of contractors. Data show that public and nonprofit sectors benefit most from contracts, even though the manufacturing sector originally was the targeted clientele. This is explained,first, by public sector demand that did not correspond to research and development done by firms and, second, by the fact that public sector and nonprofit organizations are in afavorable position to obtain contracts due to closer relations with public organizations. The contracting out policy has contributed to the development of organizations that share common characteristics with the public sector