What Gets Funded Depends on How Intent Is Translated: Translation Dynamics in Funding Systems (ERC, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Gates Foundation)

This paper examines how funding decisions are shaped by the translation of institutional intent into evaluation criteria and allocation rules. It shows how shifts in interpretation affect what projects are selected, funded, and prioritised over time. The paper analyses translation dynamics within funding systems, highlighting how decision criteria evolve independently of declared purpose. It contributes an empirical perspective on how governance structures shape resource allocation outcomes. This paper contributes to research on evaluation systems, commensuration, and performance-based governance by showing how funding decisions operate on translated representations rather than institutional intent. This paper is part of the Coherence Programme. Further materials and companion papers are available at: https://thecoherenceprogramme.org/