Nederland mist kenniskansen in China
De AWT heeft in het kader van zijn
De volgende aspecten benadrukken zij als kenmerkend voor hunkijk op ons land en het onderzoek hier: ‘High standard ofpublications, strong focus on research outcome instead of process,like to take initiative and go for opportunistic cooperation,strong flexibility, do not easily share research results, lowentrance requirements to start working/study in the Netherlands,low pressure (good work/life balance).’
Weinig initiatief en naam
Nederland springt er voor de mensen in China vooral uit door eenhoge mate van excellentie in verschillende terreinen van R&D eneen open en informele cultuur en manier van werken en leven. Ookvindt men het hoger onderwijs van hoog niveau.
Wel hebben Nederlandse instellingen de neiging in hunsamenwerking met China wat op de korte termijn te mikken, met nietzo veel financiële middelen en daarin ook weinig samen op tetrekken met de overheid. 40% van de respondenten vinden detoegevoegde waarde van wat de Nederlandse overheid bijdraagt aanhun samenwerking niet erg groot.
Het verder versterken van de samenwerking staat daarbij ook nietzo hoog op de agenda, want initiatief daartoe komt vaak van de kantvan de partners in China zelf. Dat maakt de samenwerking in Chineseogen minder doeltreffend. De naamsbekendheid van het onderzoek ende kansen op dat gebied in ons land vinden de Chinese partners vaakte laag. Ons land mist hierdoor bepaald kansen, zo vrezen zij.
De belangrijkste conclusies en adviezen
De belangrijkste conclusies uit de studie van International TopTalent (ITT) over de visies van de mensen in China op ons land enzijn kennissector leest u hier:
Image research and innovation in theNetherlands
· The majority of the Chinese institutes feel that theNetherlands has a good image when it comes to research andinnovation
· High excellence in specific research areas, informal way ofworking and open cultural environment are positive keydifferentiators of the Netherlands compared to other Europeancountries
· Dutch institutes have an image to go for short-term andlow-profile cooperations in China, without too much governmentinvolvement, negatively impacting the cooperation
· The main goal for Chinese professionals and researchers to goabroad is to create more opportunities for their careerdevelopment. The UK is the most attractive European country for acareer abroad, because of English language and high number ofimmigrants living in the UK. North western European countries areranked at a second position (including the Netherlands), with adeveloped, stable and safe environment and strong universities
· In addition, the Netherlands is valued for its work-lifebalance, open culture and international attitude. Chineseresearchers also value the relatively low language barrier of theNetherlands compared to other European countries
Policy measures in China
· The policy measures in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2010 – 2015)underline China’s ambition to move up the value chain to a moreknowledge based economy
· China focuses on seven priority sectors and will seek moreinternational knowledge cooperation with experts in thesefields
· China places more and more emphasis on talent and talentdevelopment as indicated in its Talent Development Plan (2010 -2020) both by giving Chinese researchers the chance to work andlearn abroad and offer incentives to Chinese overseas talent toreturn to China
Vision on (future) Sino-Dutchcooperations
· The large majority of the Chinese institutes highly valuetheir Sino-Dutch cooperation and want to continue and increasetheir knowledge cooperation with partners in the Netherlandsbecause of excellent scientific knowledge in specific areas,ability to translate scientific outcomes into applications and itsstrong education system
· The majority of the Chinese institutes say that dealing withIP rights is most difficult in current and future cooperations
· Both Chinese institutes and researchers point out that theNetherlands and its research opportunities are not well known inChina, hence the Netherlands may fail in attracting Chinese toptalent
· Personal contacts or experiences with a country is by far themost important reason for Chinese institutes to start apartnership, followed by access to (financial) resources and thesupport of the foreign country’s national or local government. Itis shown that almost 40% of the respondents perceive a moderate tolow added value of the Dutch government in their Dutch partnershipand 80% consider the accessibility to financial resources moderateto low
· In the top three of activities in partnerships with Europeanpartners are joint research, exchange of researchers and exchangeof professors. Specifically in Sino-Dutch cooperations also PhDtraining, intercultural training and joint application for fundingare added
· For most Chinese researchers career path is the most importantfactor to determine their destination for a career abroad
· Most of the professionals and researchers who have been to theNetherlands indicate that they had a specific reason to go there.The most important factors determining their choice weredescription of job/research project, ranking of university orresearch group, and professor or research group
Recommendations
Based on this study – which includes the outcomes ofquestionnaires and in-depth interviews with both Chinese institutesand government agencies and Chinese professionals and researchers -International Top Talent identifies a number of recommendations toput forward to the Dutch government on how to increase thecountry’s attractiveness as a knowledge partner and how to enhancecurrent and future Sino-Dutch cooperations.
1) Start active promotion in China of famous Dutch scientificareas and (research) opportunities to enhance joint research andincrease the attraction of highly qualified researchers
2) Focus on knowledge cooperation in the seven priority sectorsof China to ensure high-profile and long-term partnerships in areasthat China is now rapidly developing
3) Invest in strong relations with the Chinese government toensure high-level and long term deals for Dutch universities,institutes and companies
4) Further suggestion: Increase level of services for Chineseresearchers and professors to retain top talent in the Netherlandsand increase the competitive advantage against other Europeancountries like UK and Germany.
