Activities of the OECD s SFRI ad hoc Working Party Dr Ester Basri OECD Science and Technology Policy Division Presentation to MEXT s International Affairs Committee Tokyo, 30 October 2006 ester.basri@oecd.org 1
What is SFRI? The Steering and Funding of Research Institutions (SFRI ) group is an ad hoc Working Party of the Committee for Science and Technological Policy (CSTP). The SFRI Group is mainly represented by Delegates from Education and Research Ministries. The SFRI organises workshops, undertakes research and publishes reports. Recommendations are reported to the CSTP. 2
SFRI Mandate SFRI work was reoriented following the 2004 OECD Science Ministerial to focus on fostering human resources in science and technology (HRST). The SFRI group divided its work into four subactivities: 1. Supply and demand issues 2. Women and scientific research 3. The attractiveness of research careers; and 4. The international mobility of human resources in S&T 3
Why is human resources for science and technology an important topic at the OECD? HRST is crucial for innovation and economic growth: Highly-skilled people create and diffuse innovation; Highly-skilled people maintain and develop society s store of knowledge. Both OECD and non-oecd economies need to expand and maintain the supply of HRST: Expenditure on R&D has increased; Demographic changes. 4
The SFRI work is linked to other areas in the OECD SFRI has co-ordinated its work with related activities underway in the CSTP and elsewhere in the OECD. The most notable links to date have been with: The Global Science Forum (GSF) work on the Evolution of Interest in Scientific Studies; and The National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators (NESTI) project on the Careers of Doctorate Holders. The SFRI work on international mobility will be linked to broader OECD work. 5
Supply and Demand Policy makers concerned that the supply of S&T graduates is not increasing fast enough to keep up with the demand. SFRI group held a workshop in April 2005. The workshop proceedings were published in 2006: Changing Supply and Demand in a Globalised Economy 6
Attractiveness of Research Careers OECD countries need to ensure that research careers are attractive and competitive to attract young people into science and technology. Workshop held in Madrid, April 2006, to analyse researcher careers for the 21st century. Prof. Shinichi Yamamoto, Hiroshima University, represented Japan. The SFRI Secretariat also conducted a survey examining the working conditions and attractiveness of research careers in universities and public research organisations. The workshop proceedings and results from the survey will be published later in the year. 7
Women in Science OECD countries are addressing women s participation in S&T and encouraging women to pursue careers in S&T. First workshop held in Paris, November 2005. Analysed trends and causes behind the low participation. Second Workshop held in Canada, September 2006. Analysed solutions in OECD countries and identified strategies to improve the representation of women. Prof. Maki Kubo and Dr. Yukiko Miura represented Japan. Proceedings from the first workshop will be published shortly. A summary report of the second workshop was presented at the CSTP meeting last week. 8
International Mobility of Researchers (1) Across the OECD, growing importance to understand the scale, direction and drivers of international mobility. SFRI group has started to analyse the international mobility of researchers. This work complements broader work planned by the OECD in 2007-2008. This broader OECD project will seek to identify good practices concerning the organisation and management of migration. 9
International Mobility of Researchers (2) The SFRI group s aim is to analyse mobility patterns and identify good policy practices for inward and outward mobility ie. brain circulation. A survey instrument has been prepared to investigate national and institutional policies and good practices for researcher mobility. The survey covers: Economic incentives Immigration incentives Social and cultural support Strategies to integrate and recognise foreign qualifications Other support (for example, provision of infrastructure) 10
Joint OECD, MEXT and JSPS workshop on international mobility A joint workshop will be held back-to-back with the CSTP meeting (26th & 27th) in Paris on 28 March 2007 The aim of the workshop is to : Analyse the international mobility of researchers; Share knowledge and learn about successful programmes and practices around the world; and Identify policies to enhance the mobility of researchers. The workshop will include sessions that address: The importance of international mobility; Government policies; and Institutional policies. 11
Japan s support of SFRI Japan has been a strong supporter of SFRI activities: MEXT JSPS NISTEP (esp. Prof. Miura) NIER (esp. Dr Kitagawa) Hiroshima University (Prof. Yamamoto) Hitosubashi University (Prof. Ota) The OECD welcomes Japan s continued support of its activities. 12
I hope to see many of you at the joint workshop on 28 March 2007 13