About RADMA

In 1967 a research unit dedicated to studies in the management of research and development was established at the Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK. In 1969 a decision was taken to launch, in conjunction with Basil Blackwell of Oxford, a new – and the first in Europe – publication dedicated to the area of research and development. The R&D Management Journal was formed in 1970. RADMA (Research and Development MAnagement) subsequently emerged as a means of encouraging personal subscriptions to the journal and later, more widely, as a support for the field in general.

Professor Alan Pearson was the founding editor of the R&D Management Journal and subsequently became Chairman of RADMA. He retired from this position in October 2013, handing over to Jeremy Klein, Director of Technologia Ltd., Cambridge.

Read more about the history of R&D Management

The first R&D Management Conference was held in Manchester in 1980 and this annual event has grown over the years into a major focus for both academics and practitioners. Over the last 30 years it has been held in number of venues mainly in European countries but also, for example, India, Amsterdam, New Zealand, Taiwan and Canada. The conference is well respected and provides a valuable means of communication and exchange of ideas as well as quality papers, which authors are encouraged to submit for publication through the usual refereeing procedures of the R&D Management Journal as well as other leading journals in the field. Scholarships to attend the conference have been provided by RADMA over many years to support students who would not have been able to attend due to lack of finance. Best paper prizes for both overall and practitioner quality and relevance have also been awarded.

RADMA has supported many other activities relevant to the field of research, technology and innovation management, such as conferences, workshops and summer schools; for example, the pioneering European Summer School in Doctoral Management with the EISAM (European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management) academic programme. Finance has also been provided to students at the Masters and Doctoral programme level and for research in a number of universities.

As a result of these activities, RADMA was granted charitable status in 2003. Its objectives were agreed as the promotion and advancement of education in all aspects relating to the undertaking of research and development management by:

1. the dissemination of results of any research undertaken by the publication of journals, books, articles and the provision of courses, workshops and conferences or any other charitable means in furtherance of the objectives of the Charity; and
2. the sponsorship of students undertaking such research.

To achieve these objectives RADMA is promoting a variety of initiatives and will continue to do so in the future. It also welcomes and encourages any interested parties who may have suggestions or requirements for support that can be embraced within the objectives of the Charity..