Fusionopolis- Singapore
The future of scientific research is moving global, and especially toward Asia, in the search for talented, skilled people. Asian countries have encouraged their children to study science and engineering and have invested in educating them well. Today they are reaping the benefits as more and more universities and corporations locate their research in Asian counties.
Joint Research is the New Way
Over the past 30 years scientific research has moved away from single individuals in lonely labs and now takes place in complex and multi-functional research centers. Because of this, joint ventures and partnerships have grown between organizations as well as governments. It seems as though political boundaries and nationality are less important and much less motivating than they were a decade ago. Perhaps it was the Carter administration that began this process of change by signing a joint research agreement with China in 1979. From then on, China and the United States have been formally cooperating on scientific research into areas such as weather patterns, earthquakes, energy conservation, bio-fuels and solar energy. Even the journal Science has opened a bureau in Beijing.
The United States and Russia are continuing to partner in building the space station and share the results of the research astronauts conduct.
Research Centers
U.S. research universities are setting up operations in research centers springing up in China, Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore has made great strides in moving its economy from dependence on manufacturing to leading in high value sectors such as research and bio tech. By encouraging corporations and universities to open research centers, they are assuming a leading role in luring the world’s best scientists and thinkers to Singapore. Just last October Singapore opened its newest scientific research center called Fusionopolis, and in February the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign announced that it was opening its first research center outside the United States in the Fusionopolis center. Singapore also hosts biopolis which houses many American and European bio tech firms and their research centers. There are major research centers in Korea and Japan and both India and China produce more engineers each year than the United States and Europe combined.
American Research Talent is Scarce
Most American doctorates are awarded to non-citizen students. Many have had their tuition paid by their government, but students are now able to get a solid education in their own country and do research in the growing number of research centers. For the students whose familes pay, American education is getting out of financial reach and fewer of these students can afford to study in the United States. They also face immigration and visa hurdles. So they embrace the open invitations they receive from China and Singapore and other countries to study and work. Today U.S. citizens receive only 8% of all engineering Ph.Ds, 13% of all physical science doctorates, and 24% of life science doctorates. Because of this universities are forced to look elsewhere for teaching and research talent.
Asia Taking Over the World’s Research Lead
Asia seems poised to take a commanding lead in providing the infrastructure, education and political will to make research the key to its economic success. It is uncertain what this means for the U.S., but it will likely reduce our competitive edge. Every year that we slip behind in producing scientists and engineers, it becomes more difficult to catch up. America’s wealth and power have sprung from science, engineering and technology. We have led the world in these areas and because of that in many other areas as well. But the torch seems to be moving on.
