7 - New Scientific Research Systems in a Changing Asia

Summary

This chapter documents the changes that returnees observed in their respective Asian country’s research systems that affected their experience of pursuing scientific research in Asia. Change in five dimensions of scientific research systems in each of the four Asian case countries are identified:

1. 1. Research funding: the volume of funding available, the rate at which a scientist’s grant applications are successful, and the research areas/modalities that are prioritized

2. 2. Research administration: the policies and processes surrounding grant applications, funding disbursement, and the ordering of research supplies, and also more general administrative processes

3. 3. Research networks: the degree of connections returned scientists have, and are able to create, with actual and potential research collaborators within the global scientific field

4. 4. Research staff: the availability of postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students to work in scientists’ labs, and the quality and commitment levels of these support personnel

5. 5. Research infrastructure: the availability and quality of the space, equipment, specimens and supplies available to researchers to conduct their research.