Author: Smart Societies

Smart Societies explores changes to emerging economies in Asia driven by science, technology, education, and innovation.

How offshoring is changing

A new report released by A.T. Kearney examines the changing face of offshoring. The report, Global Services Location Index 2016, maps the offshoring landscape in 55 countries across three major categories: financial attractiveness, people skills and availability, and business environment.

Turning Japanese innovation

In January, Japan’s government adopted a new Science and Technology Basic Plan (2016-2020). The intention is to turn Japan into the world’s most innovation friendly-country and build a “supersmart society”.

Asia’s innovation hotspots

Urbanisation and technology are playing an important role in driving real estate growth in Asia’s major cities. According to the latest JLL report,City Momentum Index 2016, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing are fast rising up the innovation rankings of top cities. In the Asia Pacific region, Bangalore ranks number one – and fourth overall….

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India’s dismal innovation performance

India has one of the most hostile environments in the world for driving innovation according to a recent report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a technology policy think tank.

Botswana’s innovation ambitions

This week Botswana announced that the building of the country’s first science and technology park, Botswana Business Innovation Hub, is expected to open soon.

Universities are smart investments – new report

Australian universities play a critical role in supporting economic growth. From preparing graduates for the labour force by training scientists, professionals, technicians, teachers, civil service and business leaders. Conducting research that leads to new knowledge, supports innovation, entrepreneurship and even spin-off technologies and companies. To generating more than $16 billion a year in export income…

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How China plans to use knowledge to advance its economic ambitions

The Silk Road concept is not new. Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the idea in 2013 during a visit to Kazakhstan and Indonesia. What is new is the use of education as a tool to help drive China’s regional economic ambitions. Education is important to Beijing’s diplomatic and trade strategy.

Transnational education strategies: what works, what doesn’t? An overview – Part 1 of 4

A Europe Association of International Education Conference panel addressing the question, ‘Transnational education strategies: what works, what doesn’t? The conference was held from 16-19 September 2014. Over the next week, I will upload a series of papers published from the conference addressing this topic. To kickstart, Dr Rahul Choudaha provides an overview and context of the discussion.

Four points about higher education in India

The recently released rankings of the Times Higher Education for Asia paint a grim picture of Indian Higher Education. The country the size of India has managed only 9 varsities in the top 100 education institutions in Asia. Four points merit attention with respect to India’s higher education system amid this not so good performance.

Why Russia’s Skolkovo Innovation Center is Off Strategy?

Russia’s strong effort to re-create the “Silicon Valley Phenomena” is a great initiative for an oil and cash-rich nation to undertake–it is a necessary and wise investment of these always limited, windfall resources. And any attempt to harness the prodigious intellect of Russian minds is admirable and requisite. But is Russia’s Skolkovo Innovation Center off to the right start? Are all systems go?