China’s AI Ambition

China’s rise as a global leader in AI raises questions about the benefits & risks of collaboration. Is cooperation helping China overtake democratic nations or is it a threat to national security?

Why science is getting less disruptive

A recent study found that the amount of groundbreaking scientific research has decreased in recent years. The study, published in the journal Nature, analysed millions of scientific papers and patents from the last century and discovered that papers and patents from the 2000s were more likely to improve on previous research rather than make new…

Who are Asia’s most creative disrupters?

Tesla is ranked number One in Forbes ‘Most Innovative Companies’. This year, 24 major Asian firms appear among Forbes list of the World Most Innovative Companies. The list identifies the top 100 “creative disrupters” – companies that are entering, innovating and attracting the interest of investors.

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…

Is government the problem in China’s innovation?

China’s agenda is to become an innovation-led nation by 2020 and a world leader in science and technology by 2050. China spends more on R&D than any other economy, besides the USA. It has increased R&D spending from US$23 billion in 2012 to about $284 billion in 2014. It stills trails most developed countries as a percentage of total economic output. Analysts suggest the gap will close as China continues to rapidly increase spending.

US – India higher education relations

Even before he came to office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called India and the U.S. “natural allies”. In September, Prime Minister Modi and President Obama will meet in Washington. The Brookings Institute recently released a briefing paper “The Modi-Obama Summit – A leadership moment for India and the United States” in preparation of the visit. The paper covers a range of issues from internet governance, nuclear cooperation to counter-terrorism and Asia broadly. A section of particular interest is the US-India higher education relations. In a short chapter, Shamika Ravi, a Fellow with Brookings India in New Delhi offers some suggestions on how US and India could strengthen their bilateral relationship in higher education.

Russia’s higher education: Tipping point?

In this week’s Smart Societies blog we look at Russia’s higher education challenge. Our article focuses on Russia’s renewed efforts to internationalise its higher education sector. But a paper published in the Studies in Higher Education by Maria Yudkevich from the National Research University Higher School of Economics identifies inherent challenges to Russian ambition. Russia’s…

Unleashing the power of innovation

By Andrew Moody Is China about to lead the world as an innovator again? The world’s second-largest economy invented gunpowder, the compass, printing and papermaking, but has fallen behind not just in recent decades but for most of the last two centuries. After reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, China became the workshop of the…

Asia-Pacific Analysis: Bridging the ASEAN research gap

By Crispin Maslog Member states of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), home to some 600 million people, expect to enter 2015 riding on the waves of strong economic growth and a burgeoning middle class. This development coincides with the launch of the integrated ASEAN Economic Community next year. However, some South-East Asian economies…

4 Countries that are leaving Silicon Valley in their tracks

By Vivian Giang   Every few months there seems to be another region somewhere in the world that claims to be the next Silicon Valley. Sometimes the new high-tech hub is hyped up, but other times, it’s evident that there’s something special brewing. These countries have digitized governments that will put our Healthcare.gov problems to…

China looks to science and technology to fuel its economy

Maintaining stability in the face of rapid change and growth, and proactively partaking in cooperative global ties in science and technology fields will be key in helping China become an innovation-based economy, according to Denis Simon, vice provost for International Strategic Initiatives at Arizona State University. One of the world’s leading experts on science, technology…

Innovation: new engine for China’s development

  By ZHOU TIANYONG AT a group study session of the central leadership in September, Party leader Xi Jinping stressed that the implementation of the strategy of innovation-driven development will decide the future of the Chinese nation. He urged the Party and society to grasp the trend of global science and technological innovation and seize the…

State of Victoria emphasises innovation in South East Asia

The Premier of Victoria, Dr Denis Napthine, is leading a super trade mission of 450 business and education delegates to South East Asia. The delegation will focus on Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Higher education and research is a major focus of the visit. About five Victorian universities are accompanying the premier. They…

India’s new science and technology policy

On 3 January 2013, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced India’s new science, technology and innovation policy. The policy sets out an ambitious plan to double investment in science over the next five years and establish India among the top five nations in terms of output in scientific publications by the end of the…