© 2000 by European Journal of Public Health
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION |
International networking
A healthy vehicle for research?
GWENDOLIJN M.M. BOONEKAMP1,, CAROLINE COSTONGS2, KRISTEL L.R. LOGGHE3 and MAUD M.E.J. VAN DER VENNE4
1Valencian Institute of Studies in Public Health (IVESP) Valencia, Spain NOC*NSF, Sport and Health Arnhem, The Netherlands
2Institute for Health, Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool, UK Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Woerden, The Netherlands
3Department Health Organisation, Policy and Economics, University Maastricht Maastricht, The Netherlands
4University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland Big Banana Holding Antigua, West Indies
Correspondence: Gwendolijn Boonekamp, NOC*NSF, Sport and Health, P.O. Box 302, 6800 AH Arnhem, The Netherlands, tel. +31 26 4834400/708, fax +31 26 4821245, e-mail: gwendolljnboonekamp{at}noc-nsf.nl
Collaboration between research centres has existed for a long time, but the possibility of obtaining external funding has been an extra motive for centres to participate in international networks. This paper discusses the opportunities and limitations of international networking based upon the case of the CityHealth Research Network in which the authors participated. They reflect upon the functioning of European networking in practice and highlight aspects that could be Improved. The structure, organization and functioning of the CityHealth Research Network are considered as well as its influence on research output. Furthermore, recommendations are formulated on establishing and implementing a coherent and efficient cross-national research network. It is not a one-sided success story about collaboration between international research teams, but rather a reflection upon the learning experiences and the successes achieved within this network. In general, the complexity of networking between research teams from different countries not only seems to be a challenge for research practice, but it also provides a challenging topic for scientific inquiry itself.
Keywords: EC funded network, international research networking