Determinants of cognitive mobility

Cognitive mobility is the movement of researchers from one set of topics to other topics, and this may stimulate innovation in science. This paper starts with suggesting and further developing a method to measure cognitive mobility as a career property at the individual researcher level. Then we try to identify factors that stimulate or hinder the development of cognitive mobility. Starting with variables representing geographic mobility and virtual mobility, and variables measuring a researcher's productivity and independence, we develop a model explaining the level of cognitive mobility in different career phases. Whereas geographic mobility and virtual mobility have no or even a negative effect on cognitive mobility, the level of productivity and of independence both influence cognitive mobility positively.