The Transformation of Enwise R&D sectors: virtual leverage for catching up or a loss of human potential? The Transformation of Enwise R&D sectors: virtual leverage for catching up or a loss of human potential? Dr. Nikolina Sretenova Senior researcher Institute for Philosophical Research Bulgarian Academy of Sciences ENWISE Expert

The Structure Pre-communist times (until World War II) Pre-communist times (until World War II) Communist period (World War II ) Communist period (World War II ) Transitional period ( /9) Transitional period ( /9) R&D Reform and Enlargement process R&D Reform and Enlargement process

The Methodology - science centre: the country, which plays the role of science centre, provides (for a certain period of time) the norms, patterns and ideals of the scientific activity, including the models for HE and R&D, the structures of organisation and management of science, i.e. the science policy - science centre: the country, which plays the role of science centre, provides (for a certain period of time) the norms, patterns and ideals of the scientific activity, including the models for HE and R&D, the structures of organisation and management of science, i.e. the science policy - science periphery: the countries of the so-called science periphery copy the science values, models and structures provided by the science centre or at least imitate them. The countries of the science periphery transfer and adapt the science centre‘s models to their national backgrounds - science periphery: the countries of the so-called science periphery copy the science values, models and structures provided by the science centre or at least imitate them. The countries of the science periphery transfer and adapt the science centre‘s models to their national backgrounds

Pre-communist times (until World War II) Building of modern type Universities (19th C) Building of modern type Universities (19th C) Founding of National Academies of Sciences (19th C) as learned societies Founding of National Academies of Sciences (19th C) as learned societies Developing of democratic society and market oriented economy (first half of 20th C) Developing of democratic society and market oriented economy (first half of 20th C)

Soviet/Centralized model of R&D sector Research institutions lost their autonomy Research institutions lost their autonomy Introduction of division of the R&D and HE sectors: NAS, branch R&D and Universities Introduction of division of the R&D and HE sectors: NAS, branch R&D and Universities Full-time employment Full-time employment Excessive scientific research in terms of both personnel and of the ratio of its cost to the GDP Excessive scientific research in terms of both personnel and of the ratio of its cost to the GDP Self-sufficient economy and limited possibility for transfer of advanced technologies from the most developed countries Self-sufficient economy and limited possibility for transfer of advanced technologies from the most developed countries Relative isolation Relative isolation A general vision that a research institution has a positive value simply by virtue of its existence, regardless of its relationship to world science and to a real innovation process in a market economy A general vision that a research institution has a positive value simply by virtue of its existence, regardless of its relationship to world science and to a real innovation process in a market economy

Communist science policy Funding mechanisms: state budget subsidy (generous funding, privileged status of NAS) Funding mechanisms: state budget subsidy (generous funding, privileged status of NAS) Organization and management: centralized planning, strict governmental control, ideological pressure Organization and management: centralized planning, strict governmental control, ideological pressure Human resource potential – overstaffing (30% to 40% auxiliary personnel); training of the promising Enwise human resource potential at the science centre (USSR) Human resource potential – overstaffing (30% to 40% auxiliary personnel); training of the promising Enwise human resource potential at the science centre (USSR) Information and equipment supply: comparatively good, though ‘selective’ information supply in social sciences and humanities Information and equipment supply: comparatively good, though ‘selective’ information supply in social sciences and humanities International co-operation – mainly within the framework of Comecon (‘Council for mutual Economic Assistance’) International co-operation – mainly within the framework of Comecon (‘Council for mutual Economic Assistance’)

Communist period (World War II ) Bulgaria, the Czech and the Slovak Republics (at the time both in Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Poland and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) Bulgaria, the Czech and the Slovak Republics (at the time both in Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Poland and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) The three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania The three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Slovenia and Romania Slovenia and Romania

The strategic aim of the Enwise countries of the Soviet Block Winning the Cold War Competition Winning the Cold War Competition Building the rational socialist society (Enwise scientists were no longer seen as bearers of the national cultural traditions and values, but as builders of rational socialist society) Building the rational socialist society (Enwise scientists were no longer seen as bearers of the national cultural traditions and values, but as builders of rational socialist society)

Transitional period ( /9) Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, identified afterwards for short as CEECs Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, identified afterwards for short as CEECs The three Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania The three Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The ‘scientific community effort’ - Bottom- up driven phase of transformations of HE and R&D sectors (1990 – 1995) In the CEECs Legislation – restoration of the academic autonomy; decentralization – self-governing research units Legislation – restoration of the academic autonomy; decentralization – self-governing research units Drastic reduction of R&D personnel (on average with 50%) and its optimization; the most affected group – young scientists and auxiliary personnel, the less affected groups – senior R&D staff and the administrative staff Drastic reduction of R&D personnel (on average with 50%) and its optimization; the most affected group – young scientists and auxiliary personnel, the less affected groups – senior R&D staff and the administrative staff Introduction of new funding mechanisms of R&D on the base of grant system Introduction of new funding mechanisms of R&D on the base of grant system Emergence of HE R&D sector Emergence of HE R&D sector In the Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania The same formal pattern as above however with different content and context The same formal pattern as above however with different content and context More radical transformation of their R&D sectors More radical transformation of their R&D sectors

The “policy makers’ effort” - Top-down driven phase of transformations of HE and R&D sectors Defining national priorities, needs and opportunities Defining national priorities, needs and opportunities Revising the adopted R&D and HE legislation during the first phase of transformation (1990 – 1995) Revising the adopted R&D and HE legislation during the first phase of transformation (1990 – 1995)

Challenges facing HE and R&D sector during the transitional period Shortage of funding followed by the substantial reduction of R&D personnel (on average by 50 per cent) Shortage of funding followed by the substantial reduction of R&D personnel (on average by 50 per cent) Low salaries in HE and R&D sectors Low salaries in HE and R&D sectors Brain drain to Western European countries and USA Brain drain to Western European countries and USA Ageing of academic and research staff. Two-thirds of Enwise scientists are over 40. ‘Came, look around, left’ pattern became practice for young people who still come to NAS (research institutes as a ‘transitional site’ for the young people) Ageing of academic and research staff. Two-thirds of Enwise scientists are over 40. ‘Came, look around, left’ pattern became practice for young people who still come to NAS (research institutes as a ‘transitional site’ for the young people)

Table 1: R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP, selected years between 1992 and 2001 Country %age change between Difference in R&D expenditure as a %age of GDP between Bulgaria (1) 1,64%0,62%0,52%0,51%0,52%0,47%-62%-8%-1,12%-0,04% Czech Republic 1,72%1,01%1,04%1,16%1.33%1,30%-41%12%-0,68%0,14% Estonia ::::0.66%0,78%:::: Hungary 1,05%0,73%0,65%0,72%0.8%0,95%-30%32%-0,40%0,23% Latvia 0,59%0,53%0,47%0,42%0.48%0,44%-10%5%-0,12%0,02% Lithuania :0,46%0,52%0,56%0.6%0,69%:23%:0,13% Poland 0,83%0,69%0,71% 0.67%0,68%-17%-4%-0,12%-0,03% Romania 0,85%0,80%0,71%0,58%0.37%0,39%-6%-33%-0,14%-0,19% Slovak Republic 1,80%0,93%0,92%1,09%0.65%0,64%-48%-41%-0,88%-0,45% Slovenia 1,91%1,61%1,36%1,35%1.46%1,57%-16%16%-0,55%0,22%

Table: Employment structure of academic staff by scientific titles, sex and age in 2001/2002 Age< ≥65 Profess ors F Assoc.P rof. F Assis.Prof.F Lecturer s F Scientist s F TotalF Total%

Main Findings In the most Enwise countries, the reduction of their R&D personnel during the transitional period was about 50 per cent In the most Enwise countries, the reduction of their R&D personnel during the transitional period was about 50 per cent The ageing of the R&D personnel with scientific degree is to be observed in most Enwise countries The ageing of the R&D personnel with scientific degree is to be observed in most Enwise countries The effort for re-integration of research activities in universities, i.e. the building of HES of R&D is rather more formal than vital The effort for re-integration of research activities in universities, i.e. the building of HES of R&D is rather more formal than vital Increasing number of Universities and equivalent HE institutions and the corresponding increase in number of students Increasing number of Universities and equivalent HE institutions and the corresponding increase in number of students Decreasing competition for admission to higher education Decreasing competition for admission to higher education Ineffective and outdated system for scientific promotion Ineffective and outdated system for scientific promotion Main Challenges: Is it possible to replace the highly qualified academics leaving the system? and How to attract talented youngsters as research fellows?

The Transformation of Enwise R&D sectors: virtual leverage for catching up or a loss of human potential? ‘East European Academies in Transition’ (Eds.R.Mayntz, U. Schimank, P. Weingart), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1998; ENWISE countries + Russia, Belarus and Ukraine Defensive/egalitarian ‘survival strategy’ Defensive/egalitarian ‘survival strategy’ Selective ‘survival strategy’ – Categorization of each institute according to its scientific quality with follow up diversification in the allocation of institutional funds Selective ‘survival strategy’ – Categorization of each institute according to its scientific quality with follow up diversification in the allocation of institutional funds Local Initiatives at the level of research institute, research team and even individual researcher Local Initiatives at the level of research institute, research team and even individual researcher

What about Russia? Russia now allocates 1.24% of its GDP to R&D sector Russia now allocates 1.24% of its GDP to R&D sector Low salaries in HE and R&D sectors: a Russian assistant professor can only expect to earn 83 euro a month compared with 3,000 euros in EU, USA and Japan. As a result many recent graduates are either working or studying abroad, or working in business Low salaries in HE and R&D sectors: a Russian assistant professor can only expect to earn 83 euro a month compared with 3,000 euros in EU, USA and Japan. As a result many recent graduates are either working or studying abroad, or working in business Two-thirds of Russia’s scientists are over 40 Two-thirds of Russia’s scientists are over 40 While the EU countries are struggling to keep women in science, Russia is struggling to keep its scientists in the country While the EU countries are struggling to keep women in science, Russia is struggling to keep its scientists in the country

Some Hopes for the Future: Enwise Report already takes off into the Bulgarian Public Space International Conference ‘Promotion of Women in Science in Southeastern Europe in the context of European Integration, October 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria (organizers: Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices (ASOs) Ljubljana and Sofia; Centre for Women’s Studies and Policies, Sofia). The Conference is being supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture in the framework of the SEE science cooperation initiative International Conference ‘Promotion of Women in Science in Southeastern Europe in the context of European Integration, October 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria (organizers: Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices (ASOs) Ljubljana and Sofia; Centre for Women’s Studies and Policies, Sofia). The Conference is being supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture in the framework of the SEE science cooperation initiative International Conference ‘European Day of the Entrepreneur’, 4-5 November 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria (organizers: Bulgarian Ministry of Higher Education and Science; Sofia University) – session ‘Women and Science’ International Conference ‘European Day of the Entrepreneur’, 4-5 November 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria (organizers: Bulgarian Ministry of Higher Education and Science; Sofia University) – session ‘Women and Science’ ‘A Workshop for Early Career Researchers’, 4th December 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria (organizers -PhD Research Career Development Centre at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Marie Curie Fellowship Association and Science’s Next Wave) – session ‘Women in Science’ ‘A Workshop for Early Career Researchers’, 4th December 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria (organizers -PhD Research Career Development Centre at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Marie Curie Fellowship Association and Science’s Next Wave) – session ‘Women in Science’

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