Research Culture and Scientific Productivity in Higher Education: Institutional Perspectives and Implications for Knowledge Transfer

Research culture plays a critical role in strengthening scientific productivity, knowledge transfer, and the social impact of higher education institutions. This study examines the relationship between research culture and scientific productivity within a higher education institution, while advancing a broader understanding of research culture as an institutional ecosystem that integrates knowledge generation, dissemination, transfer, and social engagement. A qualitative research design was employed, combining Grounded Theory with a five-stage hermeneutic analysis framework. The study was conducted at a public university in Peru and involved 16 key informants, including university authorities, RENACYT-certified researchers, full-time faculty members, and doctoral-level academics with experience in teaching, research, and institutional management. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a focus group and analyzed using Atlas.ti 22. The findings reveal that research culture is shaped by interconnected dimensions, including intellectual curiosity, interdisciplinary collaboration, continuous professional development, academic leadership, and institutional support. The integration of research and teaching emerged as a central mechanism for fostering critical thinking, developing research competencies, and promoting socially relevant knowledge generation. Participants identified access to resources, academic networks, research training opportunities, and institutional incentives as relevant conditions associated with scientific productivity. However, limited funding, bureaucratic procedures, technological constraints, and insufficient recognition remain persistent challenges. The study contributes to the literature by proposing an integrated perspective of research culture that extends beyond scientific publication performance and emphasizes the interaction between institutional conditions, faculty capabilities, knowledge transfer, and community engagement. These findings suggest that universities can enhance their scientific productivity and social impact by developing research ecosystems that connect teaching, research, innovation, and societal needs. Strengthening research culture therefore represents a strategic pathway for consolidating universities as institutions committed to knowledge creation and sustainable social development.