Management of research institutions in socially critical areas: risks of information dishonesty and digital verification of knowledge

Abstract

The article studies the management of research institutions as a system of organizing, financing, expert evaluation, and digital verification of knowledge in socially critical areas. It is substantiated that the shortcomings of science management have consequences not only for academic reputation, but also for the quality of human capital, trust in medicine, law, social policy, education, psychological support, and worldview communication. The key risks in the process of conducting scientific research are identified, including the formalization of peer review, pressure from quantitative indicators, insufficient research funding, weak verification of primary sources, cascading citation of unverified statements, a shortage of information systems for source cross-checking, and the absence of interdisciplinary assessment of social consequences. According to the latest available international statistical data, in 2024 Ukraine’s expenditure on research and development amounted to approximately 0.37% of GDP, whereas the average indicator in 2024 was 2.24% of GDP. At the same time, at the global level, the latest aggregated indicator was 1.92% of world GDP in 2023. This indicates that a significant gap persists between the level of research and development funding in Ukraine, the European Union, and the global average. It has been established that this gap increases the dependence of science on short-term publication incentives and limits the possibilities for digital quality control of knowledge. A risk-oriented model of research institution management is proposed, combining registers of primary sources, automated reference checking, research integrity institutions, open expert review, cross-sectoral councils for socially critical topics, and the financing of IT solutions for scientific verification. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the formation of a managerial approach under which a research institution is responsible not only for producing publications, but also for preventing information errors capable of provoking social distrust, psycho-emotional losses, reduced work capacity, and a deepening innovation lag.