Taiwan PhDs power cross-border talent flows

2017/03/20

Nearly one-third of doctorate holders in Taiwan are interested in working overseas in the next five years, with 77 percent intending to return home within 10 years, according to a survey released March 14 by National Applied Research Laboratories under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Conducted for the first time by NARL, the survey of 5,196 individuals reveals the top two destinations as the U.S. and mainland China. A total 50.2 percent of under-35s are eyeing opportunities abroad, followed by 41.1 percent for the 35-40 age group and 36.1 percent for the 40-45 age group.

Li Kuo-an, author of the survey and assistant researcher at NARL’s Science and Technology Policy Research and Information Center, said the finding reflects a bullish attitude among young locals toward cross-border talent flows and globalization.

Those seeking international exposure are motivated more by positive incentives, including personal preferences and the opportunity to obtain advanced professional skills and work experience, he added.

According to Li, studies by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and World Economic Forum show that transnational talent flows benefit talent destination and origin countries in the shape of enhanced human resources and economic output for the former, and lower unemployment and greater global connection for the latter.

The rise of Taiwan as a high-tech powerhouse since the 1970’s is an outstanding example of the value of contributions by high-level talents with foreign experiences, Li said. These returnees helped create state-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute and Hsinchu Science Park, two of the most important drivers of Taiwan’s technological development spanning nearly half a century, he added.

Li commended the recent decision by the MOST to send doctorate holders in Taiwan to Silicon Valley for training in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. He also urged the government to do more in encouraging homegrown talents to seek international experiences.

In addition to introducing new concepts and knowledge to Taiwan, these valuable human assets will play a key role in connecting the country with the rest of the world, he added.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10&post=112753)