HUMAN RESOURCES AND NATIONAL SYSTEMS OF INNOVATION PROF. LÉA VELHO DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY UNIVERSITY OF CAMPINAS, BRAZIL

THE QUESTIONS Why is it important to treat human resources as an integral component of national innovation policy? Why is it important to treat human resources as an integral component of national innovation policy? How to create and maintain a critical mass of researchers able to consistently and systematically contribute to and absorb the knowledge base relevant to the solution of national current and future problems? How to create and maintain a critical mass of researchers able to consistently and systematically contribute to and absorb the knowledge base relevant to the solution of national current and future problems?

About: Highly Educated Human Resources (MSc; PhD) and Innovation

Why Human Resources as Component of National Innovation Policy? “The responsibility for the creation of scientific knowledge – and for most of its application – rests on that small body of men and women who understand the fundamental laws of nature and are skilled in the techniques of scientific research” Vannevar Bush, 1945

Why Human Resources as Component of National Innovation Policy? Because knowledge is not easily transferable – tacit component embodied (face to face) Because knowledge is not easily transferable – tacit component embodied (face to face) “the output of basic research may have attributes of a public good, but is not a free good: the capacity to understand and use the results of basic research performed elsewhere requires a considerable local investment in institutions, skills, equipment and networks” (Callon, 1994) “the output of basic research may have attributes of a public good, but is not a free good: the capacity to understand and use the results of basic research performed elsewhere requires a considerable local investment in institutions, skills, equipment and networks” (Callon, 1994) “world pool of knowledge” is a figure of rhetoric “world pool of knowledge” is a figure of rhetoric

Why Human Resources as Component of National Innovation Policy? Knowledge has a strong National feature: the links between research and application depend negatively on distance, and positively on common nationality (linguistic aspects) Knowledge has a strong National feature: the links between research and application depend negatively on distance, and positively on common nationality (linguistic aspects) Many of the benefits of nationally funded basic research stay at home, many of the research training benefits are likely to remain within national boundaries Many of the benefits of nationally funded basic research stay at home, many of the research training benefits are likely to remain within national boundaries

Why Human Resources as Component of National Innovation Policy? Trained scientists and engineers are the most important benefit of academic research, since such training provides skills beyond those needed for the post-graduate research Trained scientists and engineers are the most important benefit of academic research, since such training provides skills beyond those needed for the post-graduate research Highly educated human resources are an attraction to foreign firms interested in investing in a foreign country Highly educated human resources are an attraction to foreign firms interested in investing in a foreign country

Why Human Resources as Component of National Innovation Policy? Technologically dynamic firms depend heavily on the close proximity of publicly funded academic research and related training Technologically dynamic firms depend heavily on the close proximity of publicly funded academic research and related training It is the demands of the dynamic firms that stimulate the proximate development of the academic science base and related research training schemes It is the demands of the dynamic firms that stimulate the proximate development of the academic science base and related research training schemes

SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE knowledge is at the heart of innovation knowledge is at the heart of innovation qualified researchers are necessary to produce a broad base of knowledge relevant to the solution of current and future problems qualified researchers are necessary to produce a broad base of knowledge relevant to the solution of current and future problems there is a clear need to create and maintain research training schemes nationally and as a component of national innovation policy there is a clear need to create and maintain research training schemes nationally and as a component of national innovation policy

HOW? Conventional Recipe devote resources to help more young people go into higher education devote resources to help more young people go into higher education create and maintain quality universities and graduate programmes create and maintain quality universities and graduate programmes foster a conducive research environment: competitive grants and a reward structure based on scientific merit and controlled peer review foster a conducive research environment: competitive grants and a reward structure based on scientific merit and controlled peer review Train researchers in PG programmes shaped by, and for the primary purpose of reproducing the academic profession Train researchers in PG programmes shaped by, and for the primary purpose of reproducing the academic profession task of PG: bring students to the research frontier of a particular specialty (4 years, master/apprentice) task of PG: bring students to the research frontier of a particular specialty (4 years, master/apprentice)

Has the RECIPE worked? Yes, although the theory supporting it looks shaky in light of evidence and experience (linear model X more complex and interactive models) the case has held up well in practice Yes, although the theory supporting it looks shaky in light of evidence and experience (linear model X more complex and interactive models) the case has held up well in practice Where? US and EU and NICs Where? US and EU and NICs Why? National technology system created demands on and resources for the national science system and corresponding training scheme Why? National technology system created demands on and resources for the national science system and corresponding training scheme

Has the RECIPE worked in Brazil ? ???? ???? if this means an increasing number of researchers, YES if this means an increasing number of researchers, YES If this means the growth of opportunities for graduates to apply their acquired capabilities in other than the academic sector, NO If this means the growth of opportunities for graduates to apply their acquired capabilities in other than the academic sector, NO Why? Why? Links with the productive sector are weak – relatively strong science is not a sufficient condition for the growth of strong technology Links with the productive sector are weak – relatively strong science is not a sufficient condition for the growth of strong technology The benefits of a critical mass of researchers are not automatic - under specific conditions The benefits of a critical mass of researchers are not automatic - under specific conditions

I - Sustainable PG education system Public universities – FREE Public universities – FREE Considerable expansion since 70’s (800 programmes) – 2006: over 2000 programmes, about students; MSc and PhD degrees Considerable expansion since 70’s (800 programmes) – 2006: over 2000 programmes, about students; MSc and PhD degrees Enough? Sufficient? Depends... Enough? Sufficient? Depends... OECD: 1 PhD/5.000 pop.; Brazil: 1 PhD/ OECD: 1 PhD/5.000 pop.; Brazil: 1 PhD/ Growth rate financially unsustainable – government funds and scholarships (90’s: 1/3 students – 2005: 1/6 students) Growth rate financially unsustainable – government funds and scholarships (90’s: 1/3 students – 2005: 1/6 students)

II – Science Fields X National Problems “direction of scientific research is influenced by the nature of national social and technological problems” (Pavitt, 1998). “direction of scientific research is influenced by the nature of national social and technological problems” (Pavitt, 1998). Is it so in Brazil? Is it so in Brazil? Dynamic processes between scientific and technological development have not been established in Brazil – exception: agriculture (history does play a role) Dynamic processes between scientific and technological development have not been established in Brazil – exception: agriculture (history does play a role) Growth and direction of PG programmes subject to processes and criteria internal to scientific fields and specialties: general knowledge base, open merit system, no priority among fields Growth and direction of PG programmes subject to processes and criteria internal to scientific fields and specialties: general knowledge base, open merit system, no priority among fields

PROGRAMMESDEGREES (MSc + PhD) TOTAL (no.) Earth and Natural Sciences Biological Sciences Engineering and Computing Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Applied Social Sciences Social Sciences Humanities and Arts6656

III - QUALITY PG education: longstanding and functioning evaluation system for resource allocation, but: PG education: longstanding and functioning evaluation system for resource allocation, but: Strongly based on publication in international journals – no reward for alternative activities Strongly based on publication in international journals – no reward for alternative activities Grantees: Grantees: Academic researchers: happy and satisfied Academic researchers: happy and satisfied Other sectors: feel they are educated and trained too narrowly; lack key professional skills: working in teams, organizational, managerial Other sectors: feel they are educated and trained too narrowly; lack key professional skills: working in teams, organizational, managerial (“it takes 3 to 5 years for a PhD to get integrated to the activities of the firm”, ESF Policy Brief, July 2002) (“it takes 3 to 5 years for a PhD to get integrated to the activities of the firm”, ESF Policy Brief, July 2002)

IV – Sector of Professional Activity Masters have a more diversified destiny Masters have a more diversified destiny PhDs remain mostly at universities PhDs remain mostly at universities Firms very, very rarely hire PhDs: in 2004, only about PhDs were working in private enterprises (PNAD) Firms very, very rarely hire PhDs: in 2004, only about PhDs were working in private enterprises (PNAD) Firms in general do not carry out activities that demand PhDs (development model, macroeconomic policies, lack of resources and incentives, etc) Firms in general do not carry out activities that demand PhDs (development model, macroeconomic policies, lack of resources and incentives, etc) Universities are, in general, ranked as very little important as external innovation sources for the innovative Brazilian enterprises (PNAD + PINTEC) Universities are, in general, ranked as very little important as external innovation sources for the innovative Brazilian enterprises (PNAD + PINTEC)

BASIC FIELDSTECHNOLOGI CAL FIELDS PROFESSIONS MPhDM M Universities40,371,830,571,732,661,5 Public Management and Services 18,39,414,66,024,517,0 Enterprises (public and private) 17,43,939,212,216,35,2 Government Research Institutes 11,8 4,47,72,1 Private Office or Clinic2,40,53,51,722,013,5 Other9,82,57,80,62,50,7

SUMMARY Expanding PG system – financial and physical sustainability under threat Expanding PG system – financial and physical sustainability under threat Focus on science: general knowledge base, open merit system, no priority among fields Focus on science: general knowledge base, open merit system, no priority among fields Quality based on publication, training too narrow for jobs outside academe Quality based on publication, training too narrow for jobs outside academe Job destination: universities (PhDs); private enterprises are NOT absorbing post-graduates Job destination: universities (PhDs); private enterprises are NOT absorbing post-graduates

HAS THE RECIPE WORKED IN BRAZIL? No, we should try a new recipe No, we should try a new recipe No, we should change the cook No, we should change the cook Yes, but it we should reduce the salt Yes, but it we should reduce the salt Yes, just add more sugar Yes, just add more sugar Yes, delicious! Yes, delicious! Well, perhaps we should understand better what is going on...Could this be a collective investigation in BRICS? Well, perhaps we should understand better what is going on...Could this be a collective investigation in BRICS?