Policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic believe a common system would make sense given the global nature of science.
A large chunk of US President Barack Obama's stimulus package was devoted to research, but the administration's focus on transparency and accountability has heightened pressure to demonstrate a return on investment in science.
Dr Julia Lane, responsible for 'Science of Science & Innovation Policy Design' at the National Science Foundation (
NSF) in the US, said there is widespread belief that investment in R&D breeds economic growth but this must be demonstrated using a robust performance measurement.
Read more here about the US model
here Cecilia Helland