We're all familiar with the Made in China label, we've seen it many products we use in our everyday life for a long time. If we say it in a more appropriate language, China is the world's most powerful manufacturer, and has achieved and maintained that position for at least two decades. This implies that the products were designed somewhere else, and the production was outsourced to China.
Well ladies and gentlemen, this is changing. China has started to move from Made in China to Invented in China. The country's National Science and Technology Development Plan -covering from 2006 to 2020- aims to increase R&D expenditures to 2.5% of the GDP by 2020 to reduce China's reliance on foreign technology. The ultimate goal is to become an innovation-oriented society by 2020, and a world leader in science and technology by 2050.
First thing we think when we read this is that the Chinese Government will implement some sort of policies so that companies feel encouraged and make of innovation their modus operandi... but that's just part of the picture.
Since the 1990s China has made higher education a priority, and as a result the proportion of graduates from senior secondary schools who go on to pursue higher education has risen from nearly 50% in 1995 to 75% by 2006. More than half of Chinese students graduate in Natural Sciences and Engineering, compared with a world average of 27% and only 17% in the US.
The investment in R&D is not new to China: from 1993 to 2003, the country's R&D expenditures grew faster than any other nation's, pushing its share of world R&D investment from 3.6% to 9.5%. During that same period, the European Union's share of world R&D investment declined from 28.5% to 25%, and the US's share dropped from 37.6% to 36.1%.
In my country, most of the people that decide to go to University major in Human Sciences (Law, Politics, Psychology), and a smaller proportion of Majors are related to Business and Administration. At the same time the Government insists that national industry should grow, that companies should be more competitive for achieving leading positions is the international markets... still, I haven't heard of any mid or long-term plans that will encourage students to pursue a science-oriented education. I don't mean we don't need professionals in Business and Human Sciences, but if any nation is interested in turning innovation into a way of living, policies should not only support companies investing in R&D, but also help building a work force that is suitable for such tasks. And China just gets it.
2 Responses to "Congratulations! You've made it to the next label"
Congratulations! I love your blog.
It's very inspiring and I'm sure you are making a lot of effort to upload and write these interesting articles.
I'm from Argentina and I think that I will apply for the OFW. It's a great opportunity to grow! Last year I had the chance to participate in a forum that is similar to this one, which is called "South American Business Forum" and it's held in Buenos Aires. It was a unique experience and it would be great to attend the OFW.
Refering to this post, I believe that China, as well as other developed countries such as USA or Japan, must be an example for the others! Unfortunately, all the countries that are in ways of development believe that they know everything and, as a consequence, they can't grow!!! Their governments have tendencies to start of zero every thing and every time, not following a strategic plan; they spend a lot of money in giving money to people in need, and they don't realize that the most important investment is EDUCATION!!! Here we have the example of China!!
But, what's the problem with education? That it has long-term results! And governments only want to get a good impresion in the society and be reelected. This is unacceptable! We all have to be "agents of change", and with effort and strength of will we can reach the results and the development at last!
To conclude, nowadays the crucial point is to think carefully and solve the problems in a rational way. So, the most important investment is the intelectual one! Future growth and development relies on education and intelectual investment. We should always have in mind the cases of countries like China that invested money on education and continued growing at a fast speed.
Thanks for this blog and let's hope we can see each other!
You attended SABF in 2007? Then we probably met, because I was part of the organizing team :) I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it, and I hope you do apply for the OFW because it's a wonderful experience!
I noticed something interesting in your comment: you mentioned "investments" and "long-term results". Education and financial investments are not very different when you put it that way: you cannot see the outcome right away, you make a big effort at the beginning and during the process and then hope for the best... I think the good news is that our generation is much more aware of this, so we are the ones that can change a perspective that has become sadly "traditional" in some countries.
Thanks so much for your feedback, I hope you'll keep passing by :)
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