• STI Policy Review
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.43-64
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• 2014

Korea has pursued an aggressive policy of inviting more foreign-born students to its universities since the late 1990s in the wake of the globalization of education markets and its changing demographic structure. While increasingly more students from Asia come to Korea for study, more than half of the graduates return home upon graduation. Given the issues of brain drain, brain circulation, and knowledge transfer that are raised by such a high return rate, this paper examines the factors that frame the foreign students' decision on their post-graduation careers. By analyzing survey data, we report that Asian students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are more likely to return than non-STEM majors. This suggests that Korea's aggressive policies of inviting foreign-born students have contributed to brain circulation and knowledge transfer between Korea and the other Asian countries. We also find that scholarships from Korean sources and positive attitudes toward Korean culture and life increase their inclination to stay in the country upon graduation. These findings, however, raise more questions than answers, since it becomes obvious that their post-graduation decisions are highly affected by what Korea as a society provides.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.55-76
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• 2018

This study analyzed the effect of the government R&D subsidy program on long-term firm survival. In order to estimate the average treatment effect for the treated group, we used the survival analysis and matching method by constituting a comprehensive dataset of more than 90,000 observations. The analysis results show that the government R&D subsidy has a negative impact on long-term firm survival. In particular, not only the subsidy does not have a statistically significant effect on firm survival in the relatively short-term, the survival probability of the subsidized firms is statistically significantly lower than the non-subsidized firms after six years. These results can be seen as weakening the justification of government R&D support. There may be problems in the subsidy policy itself and the process of selection of subsidy awardees; however, the more fundamental problem is that the subsidy policy is concluded as the one-time event. Admittedly, it would be difficult for the government to precisely manage the subsidized projects over a long term period. However, in the case of a project in which short-term performance is detected, it would be necessary to provide a step-by-step support to strengthen the firm's competitiveness through further support and continuous development of performance. Of course, mid- and long-term evaluations of subsidy support policy should be performed in parallel with such phased support.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.258-276
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• 2022

The historical aspects, policies, institutions, awards and measurement results of scientific literacy and scientific culture development in Indonesia have currently attracted further exploration. This paper utilizes secondary data research, further analyzed by employing the Supplementary Analysis technique. The results revealed that the tradition of writing and publishing scientific journals in Indonesia has existed ever since the Dutch East Indies with the journal's publication entitled 'Natuurkundig tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indië' in 1850. To date, Indonesia has owned 5,990 nationally accredited journals. Policy support has been provided at the national and regional levels, despite limitations in cultivating literacy and reading habit. From the institutional perspective, Indonesia provides a wide array of public support, including the effort of the Ministry of Education and Culture for advocating the national literacy movement and the availability of a reference database and scientific access established by the National Library; the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and the Ministry of Research and Technology. Similarly, in the award-related perspective, the Indonesia government has granted awards to individuals or groups and local governments engaging in the cultivation of scientific literacy and scientific culture. However, among the global measurements for literacy development in Indonesia (in 2020) recorded that three indicators scored less than those in 2019.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.1-19
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• 2014

The concept of a holistic innovation policy is defined in this article, with discussions of what it is, why it is relevant, and how it can be implemented to enhance product innovation. It is shown that the innovation systems approach has diffused rapidly during the latest decades and has completely replaced the linear view in the field of innovation research. The majority of European countries are striving in the direction of developing a more holistic innovation policy. However, it is concluded that the innovation policies in European countries are still dominantly linear despite the fact that holistic policy seems to be the driving vision. Innovation policy is behindhand. Why innovation policy is still linear is also preliminarily discussed. Policymakers attending conferences on innovation are practically always in favor of holistic (systemic, broad-based, comprehensive, etc) innovation policies, have abandoned the linear view by learning from innovation research. The division between "linear" and "holistic" seems to be located within the community where innovation policies are designed and implemented, a community composed of policymakers (administrators/bureaucrats) and elected politicians. Perhaps the dividing line is between these two groups in that politicians, who actually make the decisions, may still reflexively believe in the linear view. Nevertheless, there seems to be a failure in communication between researchers and politicians in the field of innovation and there is therefore a strong need to involve innovation researchers in policy design and implementation to a much higher degree. Another way to increase the degree of holism could be to separate innovation policy from research policy, since their integration tends to cement the linear character of innovation policy. The empirical results are based on a questionnaire sent to twenty-three EU Member States, out of which nineteen (83%) responded. Part of the work for this article was carried out for the European Research and Innovation Area Committee (ERAC) of the European Commission (DG RTD).

• STI Policy Review
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.23-48
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• 2017

This article advocates for a Mode 3 science policy. Compared to the university research-based Mode 1 knowledge production system and the knowledge application-centric Mode 2 innovation system, Mode 3 can be defined as a system that integrates both Mode 1 and Mode 2-type knowledge production models. In this article, based on the major characteristics of the Mode 3 scientific knowledge production system, I agree with the advocates of Mode 3 that constructing a knowledge society requires an inclusive form of knowledge production and innovation system through the democratization of knowledge production as well as the promotion of social values. Moreover, the mechanisms for creating accountable innovation in the Mode 3 system should be given more attention from the science research and policy communities to make public policy for scientific and technological innovation more reflective of social changes. Similar to the ways that the Mode 1 and Mode 2 scientific knowledge production approaches have influenced the development of science policy models, the Mode 3 scientific knowledge production approach, or Mode 3 science, also has the potential to shape a new science policy model. I will refer to this as Mode 3 science policy. In an effort to conceptualize the democracy- and society-centric Mode 3 science policy model, I will articulate science policy strategies in four science policy domains in South Korea from the context of the Mode 3 science approach. These include (1) evaluation of publicly-funded research activities, (2) valorization of scientific knowledge (that is, enhancement of the value of scientific knowledge through governmental action), (3) development of a science policy decision-making support system, and (4) anticipatory foresight of science, technology and society. When adopting and implementing a Mode 3 science framework, one progressive change is to increase socially desirable innovation such as responsible innovation.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.110-148
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• 2016

This study examines the technical level of North Korea's S&T and identifies areas for potential North-South cooperation. First, North Korean media is analyzed for situations and trends from 2010 to 2015. Despite some commendable achievements, North Korean S&T remains lacking in basic science and commercialization potential. Despite an awareness of the importance of international cooperation, North Korea is hampered by international sanctions and their own caution, consequently concentrating their efforts on China. Details of their cooperation reflect their interests and needs to a certain extent, although their collaborations were mainly in the form of meetings and conferences rather than active joint research. To assess the potential areas of cooperation with South Korea, this study also draws on interviews with NGOs and professionals working with North Korea. The country's present situation is analyzed and some practical examples of possible cooperation is suggested. North Korea has the potential to expand its cooperation not only with South Korea but with many other countries. North Korea also promisingly expresses interest in cooperation.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.136-158
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• 2013

This study identifies the structural determinants of the social acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods across European countries. Toward this end, we suggest an integrated theoretical model to explain the social acceptance of GM foods by including both perception factors (perceived benefit, perceived risk, feelings, trust, and knowledge) and value factors (ethical concerns, science optimism, religiosity, and ideology). This model is then tested by analyzing survey data collected from 18,634 Europeans in 32 countries. The results indicate that first, not only perception factors but also value factors significantly contribute to explaining the acceptance of GM foods. Second, perceived benefits, perceived risk, feelings, and ethical concerns tend to be the four biggest determinants for acceptance. Third, this two-factor model could be generalized even with variation across countries. Finally, ethical concerns and scientific optimism play a moderating role between predictors and outcomes in the acceptance of GM foods.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.87-112
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• 2017

This study analyzes patenting practices in the pharmaceutical industry and the impacts of sequential innovation. The main argument of the research is that strategic patenting is common in the pharmaceutical sector and it is legal within the context of patent law. However, when these practices have negative effects on the competition process post-grant, the practices that are legal under patent law may come into conflict with antitrust laws, which are not applied. The study brings into question whether sequential patenting practices characteristic of the pharmaceutical industry encourage or discourage innovation, and moreover, the overall functionality of the patent system. Ultimately, the functionality of the patent system creates market incentives that neglect consumer, i.e., patient, welfare; potential solutions to deal with the shortcomings are discussed.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.119-134
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• 2013

The Fukushima nuclear incident of 2011 served as an external shock that prompted Japan to reform its nuclear energy sector. The collusive relationship between the regulators within the Japanese government and the regulated power industry, as well as the lack of institutional independence of the regulatory agency, had derailed Japanese efforts to reform the sector for decades. The Fukushima crisis exposed these deeply-entrenched flaws in the system, causing public distrust and anger toward the government and the nuclear power sector. This paper discusses the institutional reform measures the Japanese government introduced in the wake of the Fukushima crisis to recover public confidence and revamp the sector to prevent future disasters. The paper also discusses the challenges the Japanese government faces on its road to a successful implementation of nuclear sector reforms.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.80-95
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• 2012

Few studies have focused on the impact of R&D outsourcing on technological innovation and productivity despite the increased importance of R&D outsourcing. This study analyzes the productivity effects of investment in R&D outsourcing with a sample of Korean manufacturing industries from 2001 to 2009. The estimation results show a nonlinear U-shaped relationship between productivity and the share of R&D outsourcing capital for total R&D capital. This implies that the cost of R&D outsourcing outweighs its benefits in the early stages of R&D outsourcing. The U-shaped relationship is particularly pronounced in high-technology industries.