APEC - Internationalization of industrial Science and Technology

Overview

Human Resource Development

All economies reviewed in this database see human resources as one of, if not the, most critical innovation factors in the knowledge-based economy. Therefore, they are investing in stronger systems of education at all levels. The resulting policies are diverse. Some stress graduate education, while others have programs to stem "brain drain" by making it more attractive for their researchers to work at home. Nearly all nations have enacted measures to increase the interest of their youth in S&T and to recruit and train more skilled IT workers.

Brain Drain

In recent years, the international mobility of high-skilled workers (often known as "brain drain") has received increasing attention from policy makers and the media. However, internationally comparable data that track the international flow of scientists and researchers are extremely limited. For example, data on foreign-born scientists and engineers, which only show inflows to the United States, provide only a partial picture of international mobility. International mobility of students represents a potential flow of qualified high technology workers. Foreign students who become part of the domestic labour force, either during or after completing their studies, can be considered as skill migration. Migration of foreign students may also provide an indication of the future international mobility of qualified workers.

Changing Skill Requirements

Indicators of skills required for the information economy are of increasing importance to policy makers, especially because of growing ICT skills shortages. Generally, when new technologies are introduced into the production process, demand drops for low-skilled workers and rises for high-skilled workers. However, not all ICT-related occupations are high-skill. Also, adoption of ICT at firm level does not necessarily translate into an increase in the economy-wide demand for higher skills. For example, new technologies may replace middle-level managers, who are typically considered high-skilled workers.

APEC Project on Mobility

The aim of this project is to study the factors that affect the free flow of researchers among APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation) economies and to consider ways to improve it. The following eighteen APEC economies are included in this study: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and the USA.

The above project was endorsed at the 13th IST-WG meeting in Singapore in October 1997. As a first step of the project, Japan circulated survey form-1 to member authorities during November 1997 in order to compile researchers’ flow-matrix among APEC economies. The report of the study was presented at the 14^th IST-WG meeting at Taipei in March 98.

As a follow up, Survey -2 was proposed and accepted at the 14^th IST-WG meeting at Taipei in March 1998. The Survey-2 forms were circulated to APEC economies to be filled in by individual researchers from each of these economies. Japan distributed survey-2 forms to researchers through member authorities, through Singapore JETRO office during May 1998. The survey form was also made available electronically at web site.

A total of 2462 filled survey-2 forms were received for analysis by August 31^st 1998 of which 2387 were analysed since the remaining were not properly filled. Since then, the responses in these forms have been sorted and analysed and this report compiled. An interesting observation made during the analysis is that the participants have not replied to those questions, which they do not consider a major issue to themselves and hence the analysis is able to give a true picture of researchers' mobility. It has been observed that a high percentage (70%)of participants used Internet-WEB to complete the questionnaire, a large number of them, being from advanced economies.

A large number of the respondents have evaluated advanced economies such as Australia, Japan and USA. 57% of the respondents have evaluated the economy after 1996, which shows the latest trend for each economy. It is heartening to note that feedback forms were received from all the 18 participating economies. On analysis, it has been found, based on the top ten positive and negative factors, that the response of participants using electronic means and paper based replies are highly comparable. Hence, in future electronic data collection can be used as the method of choice for conducting further surveys.

From the observations made, it has been found that researchers born in APEC and non-APEC economies have participated in this survey. 66% of the respondents are in the age group of 31-50 years. The six main sources of survey participants, based on birthplace were USA, Korea, Australia, Japan, Thailand, and China. 14% of the participants are born outside APEC economies. Around 7% did not indicate the economy of birth. There is no unique definition of APEC resident. Some of the respondents have suggested that birthplace should not be the sole criterion and economy of birth should be removed from the survey form.

Further analyses of the marital status of and number of known languages by the participants have shown that more than 62% are married and 29% of the respondents speak three or more languages. The latter aspect makes it easier for them to move around APEC economies.

To get a greater idea about the profile of participants, their education levels, the economies in which they have completed their university education and the APEC economies in which they conducted their research were asked for. It has been observed that the distribution of these participants for education and the economies for doing research has been wide and varied.

The profile of the participants based on these above said factors indicate that since they have had the opportunity to study and work in different economies they are in a reasonably good position to provide a proper feed back on the economies mentioned in this survey.

Promotion of researchers' exchange among APEC economies require good channels of information and communication to enable the researchers to know more about research opportunities in the APEC Economies. An analysis of the channels has indicated that 37% have used personal contacts to get this information and this seems to be the most popular mode. Internet, which was not listed in the survey questionnaire, has been mentioned as another popular means. Hence, in future, it should also be included.

The following are the most cited positive reasons for selecting an economy:

Advanced degree or technology or training
Quality of life in host economy
Centres of excellence in the economy
Unique scientific resources
Recognition of foreign qualifications
Working Conditions
Language and culture
Recognition of foreign work experience
Career Prospects
Infrastructure in host economy
Compensation

Similarly the following are the most cited negative reasons for avoiding an economy:

Cost of living
Visa and entry regulations
Immigration opportunities
Housing
Medical
Employment opportunities
Career Prospects
Recognition of foreign work experience

None of the responses indicate if anyone has declined to take up an offer in an economy, and if so, why?

Recommendations

The following points are proposed for further discussions among APEC working group:

Policy Matters

Initiate a special interest in APEC forum on 'mobility of researchers'. APEC's AST-WEB can be used to create a chat group on this topic. The survey system developed can be installed on AST-WEB, for use by member economies.
Some of the issues brought out by the survey have to be taken up at the APEC level for remedial action. Examples are:
Most of the researchers have to pay income tax at two places, on the basis of residence and source, when they go on an overseas research assignment. Even if there is a double taxation policy, it becomes difficult and time-consuming for the researchers to process and apply for tax refunds. Further considerable sum has to be spent for paying professional assistance.
Some of them feel that visa fees are high and should actually be abolished for researchers travelling between APEC economies for research purposes only.
Availability and transfer of currency between economies and ATM facilities should be improved in some economies.

Future Survey Method

The survey system developed can be improved based on the feed back received and experience obtained while carrying out the project. This can be packaged as an electronic cum paper based survey system to analyse mobility issues of S&T (science & technology) personnel.
Each economy should ensure that it gets a good number of its residents to complete the questionnaire in future so that a better overview of the economy can be got.

Dissemination

The compiled report on survey-1 and survey-2 should be distributed to authorities of APEC economies, to help them plan for research manpower and initiate promotion mechanisms for improving researchers' mobility among APEC economies.
The report and information collected should be also made available to general research community in APEC economies.
Other recommendations for medium term planning and implementation are:

Policy Matters

As a next stage, it is suggested to initiate a research project to develop researchers mobility index or patterns of Scientists & Technologists migration or researcher attractiveness indicator for APEC economies. This will help to quantify factors responsible for attracting researchers to an economy.
Creation of Funding to package the system developed for subsequent phases and dissemination of results to the wider community.
Creation of Funding to support APEC researchers exchange programs. The funds will be used for travel, training and other expenses.
As lack of information came out as one of the issues, it is necessary to create APEC database network on Researchers. Internet and WEB will be the means for achieving wider support and usage. The content will be mainly:
R&D institutions in APEC region;
R&D projects database;
Researchers' profiles; and
links to relevant and related web sites·
Recognition of past qualifications and experience is a major barrier to free flow of researchers. Similar to IT certification, there should be certification of researchers in APEC region.

Future Survey Method

Some of the important feed backs on the survey forms are:
Language and culture should be separated
Place of birth should be deleted from the questionnaire
Field of study/research should be incorporated

Dissemination

The economies, which have problem in generating data, should be helped with survey systems and technical consultancy.

As a last word, researcher's mobility is not a small and short term project, but an ongoing process. It should be studied, analysed and improved continuously and implemented in many phases in the next few years to make a significant impact.