Over the last few decades Taiwan has transformed itself from a country with agricultural backwater status to a global technological giant (1,2). During the late 1970s, the government of Taiwan initiated an intensive science and technology development programme in order to shift the focus of industrial development from heavy, capital-intensive industries to nonenergy,non-polluting and science-based industries. In order to provide the infrastructure for this development, the government instituted and funded research and development institutes strategic parts of Taiwan and also provided a number ofincentives for the development of science-based industries (1).
The high-tech Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park, located about 70 km from the capital city, Taipei, is home to 284 companies, mostly international, and all involved in high-tech research and development1.Initially, the primary industries to be promoted consisted of machinery,electronics and chemicals. Later, fields such as telecommunications, electronics,software, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, pollution prevention, biotechnology,resource development and energy conservation were included (3).
Over the last few years, young Indian scientists have been involved in various research projects and are contributing towards the development of science and engineering in Taiwan. Between 2000 and 2003, a total of 698 postdoctoralscholars from India were recruited towork in various science-based researchprojects sponsored by the National Science Council of Taiwan, one of the majorfunding agencies supporting science based research projects (4). They were placed in various research laboratories throughout Taiwan. Majority of the Indian scholars were recruited in the field of natural sciences,followed by life sciences. Engineering and applied sciences was the third largest field for recruitment of Indian postdoctoral research fellows, the relative percentage beingnearly 17% each year.Visiting scientists are non-Indians and this category includes visiting research fellows, visiting professors, visiting assistants/associate research fellows, and visiting experts. The average number of local visiting fellows was5.25% (range 4–6) during these four years; since most locals with doctoral degrees prefer to get a job either in universities or research institutes after graduation,they seldom prefer postdoctoral fellowships.
Thus there is a need for Taiwan to recruit postdoctoral scholarsfrom overseas. Despite the fact that Indian scholarsinitially have difficulties with regard tofood, living conditions, etc. in Taiwan,the low cost of living, reasonable salary (USD 1700/month) and excellent opportunitiesto work in well-equippedresearch laboratories are major attractions.Most Indian scholars usually stay for aperiod of one to three years to gain postdoctoral experience, before returning to India or set out elsewhere in the West to further their research, technological and academic goals.
Although there is no diplomatic relation between Taiwan and India (India recognizes the People’s Republicof China), visa processing work is being handled without much hastle by the Taiwan Business and Culture Officein New Delhi. Fluency in English writing, professionalism, dedication and hard working attitude of Indian scholarsare well-appreciated by scientists in Taiwan.
1. Swinbanks, D. and Cyranoski, D., Nature,2000, 407, 415–426.
2. Agoramoorthy, G. and Hsu, M. J., Nature,2000, 408, 905.
3. Taiwan 2000: Balancing Economic Growthand Environmental Protection, AcademicSinica, Taipei, 1989.
4. National Science Council, Republic ofChina Report, 2004.
Source : CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 87, NO. 2, 25 JULY 2004
No comments:
Post a Comment