Chen Yantai: The Prizes and Pitfalls of Science & Technology Progress in Developing Countries

The Prizes and Pitfalls of Science & Technology Progress in Developing countries CISTP & SPPM, Tsinghua University XUE Lan March 19th, 2010 （ UK-China Innovation Workshop for Sustainable and Equitable Development, Beijing ）

Prizes of Science & Technology Progress
Significant players both in the production of high-tech products, and as the contributors to the production of ideas and global knowledge in China and India.
In China 20% increase in R&D spending since 1999. China surpasses Japan as the 2nd largest R&D spender in 2006, only after US
Scientific publications (measured by articles recorded in the Web of Science) accounts for 1% of the world total in 1994, and 6% of the world total in 2006 (7 folds)

Vicious Circle- another Direction?
The overwhelming majority of the journals in SCI/SSCI lists are published in developed countries in English or other European languages. The language requirements and the high costs of these journals mean few researchers in China will have regular access to the content.
Research priorities in developing countries may be very different from those in developed nations. However, with the globalized science and technology, so do research priorities. Developing countries research priorities resemble those of the developed nations, such as in biotech, nanotech, green-tech et al.
Another direction in Developing countries. Scientists in the developing countries conduct the resemble hot research topics as in the developed world, but leave other crucial challenges to be met such as public health, water and food security, and environmental protection

Endanger Diversity?
The introduction of Western Scientific ideals to the developing countries can generate an environment that is hostile to the indigenous research that prima facie does not fit those ideals
Case 1: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) vs. Western medicine. The dominance of Western medicine risks endanger China’s 5000 years scientific and cultural legacy.
Case 2: Earth quake prediction. Modern (Western) earth quake prediction system in China but could not predict the disaster in Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. But non-maintream approaches of traditional Chinese approach had predicted its imminence.

A new manifesto for the sustainable innovation for future is suggested, from global perspective
Re-examine the governance of global science in recognition of the changing international geography of science. Many international norms and standards should be more open and accommodating to the changing environment in developing countries.
-- For instance, re-evaluate the SCI and SSCI list of journals to include high quality journals in the developing countries.
The global science community has a responsibility to help those developing countries that do not have adequate resources to solve problems themselves, such as CO2 capture technology and air-pollution alleviations.

A new manifesto for the sustainable innovation for future is suggested, from local perspective
Encourage the governments in developing countries must be careful in allocating their resources for science to achieve a balance between following the science frontier globally and addressing crucial domestic needs when setting agendas
Encourage community innovation, grass-root innovation and innovation in low-tech sectors.

UK-China Innovation Collaborations in the future
From the global level
From the European Union level (European Research Framework)
UK-China official / industry level collaboration in Science and Technology

Thanks ！

Chen Yantai: The Prizes and Pitfalls of Science & Technology Progress in Developing Countries

by STEPS Centre on Apr 28, 2011

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Chen Yantai: The Prizes and Pitfalls of Science & Technology Progress in Developing Countries — Presentation Transcript