Showing papers in "Science Technology & Society in 2015"
TL;DR: This paper used curricular information from a sample of applicants to the Spanish Ramon y Cajal program to assess the extent to which international mobility has an impact on students' education.
Abstract: This article uses curricular information from a sample of applicants to the Spanish Ramon y Cajal programme to, on the one hand, assess the extent to which international mobility has an impact on t...
29 citations
TL;DR: The authors reviewed the Chinese policy and talent programs after 1978 to reverse the historically brain drain of China and found out that the overseas PhD returnees are still in short supply, and that the labour market is also a social and political field that the social network and policy design would largely direct the flow of overseas returned scientists.
Abstract: This article reviewed the Chinese policy and talent programmes after 1978 to reverse the historically brain drain of China. Under the current wave of reversed migration, Chinese overseas returned scientists and scholars have gradually changed the labour structure of Chinese academia. We used the dataset of the 2008 National Survey of Science and Technology Personnels, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED), to do quantitative analysis and comparison on the performances of overseas returnees and local scholars. It is found out that the overseas PhD returnees are still in short supply. Overseas returned scientists are generally better off in academic and innovative performances. Sizable qualitative interviews showed that even within the influx of overseas returnees, the labour market is also a social and political field that the social network and policy design would largely direct the flow of overseas returned scientists.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors revisited the changing dynamics of international migration of highly skilled professionals since the publication of the Science, Technology and Society Journal's special issue on International Mobility of Brains in Science and Technology in 1997 (Vol. 2, No.2, July-December 1997).
Abstract: This special issue revisits the changing dynamics of international migration of highly skilled professionals since the publication of the Science, Technology and Society Journal’s special issue on International Mobility of Brains in Science and Technology in 1997 (Vol. 2, No. 2, July–December 1997). Two important features underlying migration were extensively analysed and discussed in the 1997 special issue: first the return of the highly skilled expatriates to their home countries; and second the S&T diaspora option (Gaillard and Gaillard, 1997). Case studies from Argentina, Colombia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Uruguay illustrated some of the points. In the last two decades we have witnessed several changes in the global science and technology system as well as national innovation systems in various countries. Two increasing trends have become quite prominent in these years. The first is the internationalisation of R&D and global nature of innovation triggered by ICT revolution. This is associated not only with the mobility of capital, R&D and innovation across countries due to various economic and intellectual factors, but also the mobility of professionals. The second is the economic transformation of several countries due to rapid growth in the respective national innovation systems. Science, technology and innovation policies in these countries have led to greater investments in R&D and S&T institutions from Latin America, North Africa, Southern Africa, East Asia and South Asia. This is also associated with greater need by several countries to connect with the global trends in science, technology and innovation developments in an effort to take advantage of the globalising world. All these trends have induced several changes in the nature and
21 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on three large public research institutes in Japan (AIST, RIKEN and JAXA) and investigate their role in helping Japan's industry by examining their patents.
Abstract: Among the actors in the National Innovation System, Public Research Institutes (PRIs) are probably the least studied. Historically, PRIs played an important role in conducting research related to the Japanese government’s missions in defence, space exploration, health care, agriculture and industrial technology. PRIs that aimed to help industry played a significant role during the catch-up period before and after the second World War. However, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as Japanese firms acquired new technological capabilities and crossed technological frontiers with increasing financial resources, the firms’ reliance on PRIs as a source of advanced technology decreased. At present, discussions are underway regarding the role and rationale of PRIs in Japan’s innovation system.In this article, we focus on three large PRIs in Japan—AIST, RIKEN and JAXA—and investigate their role in helping Japan’s industry by examining their patents. We briefly describe their background and history of development, whic...
20 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the linkages between Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and universities and highlighted the collaborative dynamics in terms of ITRI's (a) (co-) evolving knowledge capital, (b) strategic collaboration mode, co-publication in scientific papers, (c) co-owned patents, forward and backward citations and (f) science-based patents.
Abstract: This study examines the linkages between Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and universities. It employs the government–university (G–U) relation of triple helix framework to assess collaboration patterns between ITRI and the top universities of Taiwan over two phases of economic development, that is, the catching-up phase in the 1990s and the subsequent post catching-up phase over the 2000s. We highlight the collaborative dynamics in terms of ITRI’s (a) (co-) evolving knowledge capital, (b) strategic collaboration mode, (c) co-publication in scientific papers, (d) co-owned patents, (e) forward and backward citations and (f) science-based patents. Our systematic review of the role of ITRI in both catching-up and post catching-up phases will provide a useful guide for policy makers in other economies (such as Malaysia and Hong Kong) that aspire to define a similar role for their public research institutions.
19 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the relationship between social network and technological innovation performance was studied from the perspective of network structure characteristics, while rarely considering network structure properties. But the relationship was mostly from a perspective of social structure characteristics.
Abstract: Previous literatures about the relationship between social network and technological innovation performance were mostly from the perspective of network structure characteristics, while rarely consi...
18 citations
TL;DR: The concepts of brain drain, gain and circulation in the Indian context presents a fruitful sociological and policy relevant experience to understand the phenomena as it unfolded over many decades as mentioned in this paper...
Abstract: The concepts of brain drain, gain and circulation in the Indian context presents a fruitful sociological and policy relevant experience to understand the phenomena as it unfolded over many decades....
17 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the effect of innovation on technical progress in Spanish manufacturing firms by identifying and explaining how the following innovation factors affect technical progress: research and development (R&D) activities and expenditures, patents, innovations in products and in processes, internal organisation of innovation, outsourcing R&D activities, public research funding, external relationships of innovation and different ways of external collaboration for innovation.
Abstract: We analyse the effect of innovation on technical progress in Spanish manufacturing firms by identifying and explaining how the following innovation factors affect technical progress: research and development (R&D) activities and expenditures, patents, innovations in products and in processes, internal organisation of innovation, outsourcing R&D activities, public R&D funding, external relationships of innovation and different ways of external collaboration for innovation. We focus on how firm behaviour and structure drive these innovation factors. Our results are based on multiple regression analyses using firm-level data from 2010. We show that innovations in product, processes and R&D activities (especially external R&D activities) are more likely to improve the productivity of Spanish manufacturing firms. In addition, the activities related to the internal organisation or the external collaboration for innovation generates a higher productivity level. This positive effect is bigger when a firm collabor...
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an empirical study is conducted using stochastic frontier analysis on unbalanced panel data covering 31 Chinese provinces and cities, and the empirical result shows that innovation performance of RISs differs greatly in the various province and cities analyzed.
Abstract: This article summarises the literature on regional innovation system (RIS) The study uses thirty-one Chinese provinces and cities as the unit of analysis. Subsequently, an empirical study is conducted using stochastic frontier analysis on unbalanced panel data covering 31 provinces. The empirical result shows that innovation performance of RISs differs greatly in the various provinces and cities analyzed. The average score of the national regional innovation performance is 0.4514, indicating that non-efficiency is very common in Chinese provinces and cities. There are various factors that should be considered to promote innovation performance of the RIS. These are openness of RISs, maturity of the technology market, collaboration of RISs and intellectual property protection. Interestingly the unique circumstances of the Chinese market show that enterprise technology input and government investments have a negative impact on the regional innovation performance.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the challenges faced by small developing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa with the institutionalisation and professionalisation of science, and how these countries in these regions are still yet to establish their science institutions.
Abstract: Small developing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa are still struggling with the institutionalisation and professionalisation of science. Many countries in these regions are yet to establ...
14 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated capabilities-building processes of intermediaries in the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) industry in Thailand and found that the intermediaries play consulting, brokering, mediating and resources providing roles.
Abstract: The intermediaries are important organisations in mitigating systemic failures. Few of such failures are those of university–industry linkages (UILs). Although there are several previous studies, they did not pay adequate attention on how these intermediaries accumulate their capabilities that are necessary to perform their roles over time. This study will try to partially fill in such gap by investigating capabilities-building processes of intermediaries. The intermediaries in Hard Disk Drive (HDD) industry in Thailand was selected as a case study. Qualitative data was collected from 20 semi-structured and in-depth interviews of intermediaries’ management, university researchers and industrial companies in the intermediaries’ networks. The findings show that the intermediaries play consulting, brokering, mediating and resources providing roles. They assist to increase levels of interactions between university and industry, transform informal to formal relationships and nurture potential human resources f...
TL;DR: The Korean government has taken various measures to promote R&D activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) since the 1980s, including financial and tax incentives as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The Korean government has taken various measures to promote R&D activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) since the 1980s. It has provided a series of financial and tax incentives to ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted interviews with scientists living in Morocco and in Europe with scientists who returned to their country or were part of the diaspora living in Europe and found that an estimated 20 per cent of highly qualified Moroccans live abroad.
Abstract: The qualification level of the emigrating Moroccans rose steadily in the 1990s, and especially since the year 2000. At present, an estimated 20 per cent of the highly qualified Moroccans live abroad. Student migration, which accounts for a large part of this 20 per cent, is contributing substantially to keeping this level high. For the last 20 years Morocco has been testing actions to mobilise and reconnect its S&T diaspora. The related special programmes and institutions are discussed and analysed in this article. Results are mixed, especially if measured against the original goals and the high expectations of the MREs (Marocains Residant a l’Etranger: Moroccans living abroad). In response to these weaknesses and criticisms, proposals for institutional reorganisation and programme revisions have recently been put forth, or tested, but it is too early to evaluate the outcome.Interviews conducted in Morocco and in Europe with scientists who returned to their country or were part of the diaspora living in E...
TL;DR: Results show that the two elements of open innovation and intelligence can be applied exclusively in organisation for technology trend analysis and technology or idea acquisition approach.
Abstract: Nowadays, innovation management paradigm has been changed from internal development to networking and cooperation between Science & Technology network. Open innovation approach is also one of the new approaches of new innovation management that has modified internal research and development suppositions to research and development through cooperation. Accessing an appropriate technological environment and continuous awareness require various tools and methods. One of these tools is monitoring of this technological environment by the use of technology intelligence system. The purpose of this study is surveying the effect of open innovation approach on technology intelligence application in Iran’s aviation industry. The sampling method in this article is the stratified sampling of experts from the aviation industry, which includes 81 experts, managers of industrial and researching institutions, designers and superior designers, managers of repairing and maintenance, and a Private company (Aviation Union mem...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use as an instance the Arab scholarship of education and technology, viewing its scholarly community through the geographies of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.
Abstract: This article spans the domains of education, technology and geo-politics. It uses as an instance the Arab scholarship of education and technology, viewing its scholarly community through the geogra...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors have developed a composite index of technology achievement which enlightens the level of technological progress and the readiness of a country to participate in knowledge-based economy, and ranked countries in these dimensions on the basis of their indices.
Abstract: For reviewing science and technology policies of a country, an advisable beginning point is a pragmatic evaluation of its current state in technology progress. An appropriate tool used to measure the technology progress is the composite index of technology achievement which enlightens the level of technological progress and the readiness of a country to participate in knowledge-based economy. Technology achievement index (TAI) assists a country to check status of its technological progress relative to others. In the current study, TAI 2014 of OIC member states (TAI-14-OIC) is developed to analyse the situation of technological progress of OIC countries. Countries have been ranked on the basis of TAI which stands on four pillars, namely, technology creation, diffusion of old innovations, diffusion of recent innovations and development of human skills. Ranking of countries in these dimensions on the basis of their indices is also presented. Comparative analysis of some S&T indicators of OIC countries with O...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the mobility of highly skilled, or "moths" towards, in and from post-apartheid South Africa, using the Human Sciences Research Council.
Abstract: The topic of this article is the mobility of the highly skilled, or ‘moths’, towards, in and from post-apartheid South Africa. The article picks up where the Human Sciences Research Council study o...
TL;DR: Many countries have suffered from a lack of long-term strategy for international joint R&D, which triggered foreign resources that have not been strategically utilised, through supporting short-ter....
Abstract: Many countries have suffered from a lack of long-term strategy for international joint R&D, which triggered foreign resources that have not been strategically utilised, through supporting short-ter...
TL;DR: A review of the factors that discourage educated, high-quality human capital from returning to South Korea reveals renewed brain drain this paper, despite South Korea's stability and economic prosperity following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, scientists and engineers who have received their doctorates in the US in recent years opt to remain there in larger numbers than previous generations.
Abstract: Despite South Korea’s stability and economic prosperity following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, scientists and engineers who have received their doctorates in the US in recent years opt to remain there in larger numbers than previous generations. This article describes the changing nature of the brain drain problem that has continued to plague South Korea during its ascent into a developed economy. A review of the factors that discourage educated, high-quality human capital from returning to South Korea reveals renewed brain drain.
TL;DR: In this article, a map of the return of an important group of Argentine researchers who reinserted themselves into the main national agency dedicated to the promotion of scientific research in Argentina, that is, the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET).
Abstract: Since 2003 the Argentine government runs the RAICES Programme (Network of Argentine Researchers and Scientists Abroad). This programme has been designed to mitigate the negative effects of the loss of skilled human resources. This study will address one of the main programme results of the RAICES Programme: the return of an important group of Argentine researchers who reinserted themselves into the main national agency dedicated to the promotion of scientific research in Argentina, that is, the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET, for its Spanish acronym). We will attempt to draw a map of their repatriation, giving some insights into its structural dynamics and highlighting the characteristics of the returnees using a statistical approach. At the same time, we will link different variables in order to understand different itineraries of returnees in the Argentine university scientific field that help us explain this geography.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide an economic explanation for why big telecom operators are inclined to involve in anti-competitive behaviour, using concentration ratios, Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and a unique measure of excess profits of individual firms.
Abstract: Anti-competitive behaviour, despite helping its practitioners reap rich benefits, is generally believed to have adverse effects on the consumers and the economy as a whole. This paper studies anti-competitive behaviour with specific focus on the Indian Telecom Industry. With an extensive coverage of tacit collusion, predatory pricing and competition structures, this paper attempts to provide a strong economic explanation for why big telecom operators are inclined to involve in anti-competitive behaviour. Using concentration ratios, Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) and a unique measure of excess profits of individual firms, the paper tries to identify which firms have the potential to exhibit anti-competitive behaviour. Real cases of anti-competitive behaviour by firms are also documented. It is hoped that telecom regulatory and competition authorities will be more vigilant and use concrete information to act decisively and impartially.