Research management instruments (RMIs) are organizational mechanisms that shape scientific work and influence the trajectory of scientific fields within universities. This qualitative study examines 80 RMIs implemented by eight research-oriented universities in Chile between 1998 and 2021. The findings reveal that these institutions employ policies prioritizing competition as the primary means of accessing funding and opportunities, contributing to the concentration of resources among established researchers participating in international circuits. Consequently, RMIs establish hierarchies within the research community based on individual merit, disregarding the material conditions that may hinder productivity for certain actors. Furthermore, these instruments discourage participation in national and regional scientific communication networks. By highlighting the impact of RMIs, this research enhances our understanding of the organizational mechanisms that shape scientific work in Chilean universities, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities researchers face in the country’s higher education system. Future studies should explore alternative participation circuits within Chilean universities and compare experiences across Latin American regions to understand how local institutions align with global evaluation criteria.