Academic returnee policy and knowledge diffusion : case from Chinese national talent programs

Abstract

In recent decades, discussions of the “brain gain” have shifted to the positive perspective since a significant flow of scientists has been flowing back to some developing countries. China is a remarkable case not only because of the unprecedented scale of returnee scientists but also for the campaign-style national talent programs. However, doubts on the state effort is prevailing in China, as scholars argue that these programs failed to bring back the best full time. This study would like to test the effectiveness of two most prominent national talent programs, Changjiang Scholar Plan and 1000 Talent Plan, in a diasporas option perspective. Specifically, I will examine the scientific collaboration between participants in national talent programs, especially the part time returnees who keep their overseas job and work in mainland for only 2-3 months a year. A panel data including 371 program participants and non-participants from US is constructed to test the hypothesis. Results show a significantly positive effect of both full-time scheme and part time scheme participation on all three indicators: paper registered under Chinese institutions, co-authorship and connection to domestic institutions. Further analysis found that returnee scientists holding administrative position, in a better university has additional positive effect for co-publication. And being alumni in the affiliated university has no significant effect.

Date of Award	2018
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology