Business Column

Move over US - China to be new driver of the world economy and innovation

Reprinted from Terra Daily | Athens, GA, 1/25/08 -- A new study of worldwide technological competitiveness suggests China may soon rival the United States as the principal driver of the world's economy - a position the U.S. has held since the end of World War II. If that happens, it will mark the first time in nearly a century that two nations have competed for leadership as equals.

The study's indicators predict that China will soon pass the United States in the critical ability to develop basic science and technology, turn those developments into products and services - and then market them to the world. Though China is often seen as just a low-cost producer of manufactured goods, the new "High Tech Indicators" study done by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology clearly shows that the Asian powerhouse has much bigger aspirations.

"For the first time in nearly a century, we see leadership in basic research and the economic ability to pursue the benefits of that research - to create and market products based on research - in more than one place on the planet," said Nils Newman, co-author of the National Science Foundation-supported study. "Since World War II, the United States has been the main driver of the global economy. Now we have a situation in which technology products are going to be appearing in the marketplace that were not developed or commercialized here. We won't have had any involvement with them and may not even know they are coming."

Georgia Tech has been gathering the high tech indicators since the mid-1980s, when the concern was which country would be the "next Japan" as a competitive producer and exporter of technology products. The current "HTI-2007" information was gathered for use in the NSF's biennial report, "Science and Engineering Indicators," the most recent of which was released January 15.

Georgia Tech's "High Tech Indicators" study ranks 33 nations relative to one another on "technological standing," an output factor that indicates each nation's recent success in exporting high technology products. Four major input factors help build future technological standing: national orientation toward technological competitiveness, socioeconomic infrastructure, technological infrastructure and productive capacity. Each of the indicators is based on a combination of statistical data and expert opinions.

A chart showing change in the technological standing of the 33 nations is dominated by one feature - a long and continuous upward line that shows China moving from "in the weeds" to world technological leadership over the past 15 years.

The 2007 statistics show China with a technological standing of 82.8, compared to 76.1 for the United States, 66.8 for Germany and 66.0 for Japan. Just 11 years ago, China's score was only 22.5. The United States peaked in 1999 with a score of 95.4.

"China has really changed the world economic landscape in technology," said Alan Porter, another study co-author and co-director of the Georgia Tech Technology Policy and Assessment Center, which conducted the research. "When you take China's low-cost manufacturing and focus on technology, then combine them with the increasing emphasis on research and development, the result ultimately won't leave much room for other countries."

The United States and Japan have both fallen in relative technological standing - though not absolute measures - because of the dramatic rise of China and other nations such as the "Asian Tigers:" South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. Japan has faltered a bit over time, and if the increasingly-integrated European Union were considered one entity instead of 27 separate countries, it would surpass the United States.

"We are seeing consistent gains for China across all the criteria we measure," Newman said. "As a percentage mover relative to everyone else, we have not seen a stumble for China. The gains have been dramatic, and there is no real sense that any kind of leveling off is occurring."

Most industrialized countries reach a kind of equilibrium in the study, moving up slightly in one data set, or down slightly in another. But the study shows no interruptions in China's advance.

Recent statistics for the value of technology products exported - a key component of technological standing - put China behind the United States by the amount of "a rounding error:" about $100 million. If that trend continues, Newman noted, China will shortly pass the United States in that measure of technological leadership.

China's emphasis on training scientists and engineers - who conduct the research needed to maintain technological competitiveness - suggests it will continue to grow its ability to innovate. In the United States, the training of scientists and engineers has lagged, and post-9/11 immigration barriers have kept out international scholars who could help fill the gap.

"For scientists and engineers, China now has less than half as many as we do, but they have a lot of growing room," noted Newman. "It would be difficult for the United States to get much better in this area, and it would be very easy for us to get worse. It would be very easy for the Chinese to get better because they have more room to maneuver."

China is becoming a leader in research and development, Porter noted. For instance, China now leads the world in publications on nanotechnology, though U.S. papers still receive more citations.

On the input indicators calculated for 2007, China lags behind the United States. In "national orientation," China won a score of 62.6, compared to 78.0 for the United States. In "socioeconomic infrastructure," China rated 61.2, compared to 87.9 for the United States. In the other two factors, China also was behind the U.S., 60.0 versus 95.5 for "technological infrastructure" and 85.2 versus 93.4 for "productive capacity."

China has been dramatically improving its input scores, which portends even stronger technological competitiveness in the future.

"It's like being 40 years old and playing basketball against a competitor who's only 12 years old - but is already at your height," Newman said. "You are a little better right now and have more experience, but you're not going to squeeze much more performance out. The future clearly doesn't look good for the United States."

This page was taken from Asianjournal.com

Maneuver

Experience is tough kind of teacher..
They give you the exam first, then the lesson..

Now, i know my path.
^ ^ i don;t care about anyone else, all i have to do is to pursuit my dream

Forget about design stuff! Forget about any kind of things that makes me sad, angry, etc.
I was trying to find an answer about my life path for about several years, and i know for sure... That i am a business-person..

I have some plan about investment and career..
I knew i have interested in design study..
But now.. i am so excited to be the number one business person in the world..


That .. is my dream

Retreat

This is the time..
I realized that i have gone too far..

sometimes.. i feel that i looked like stupid person..

But ...this is it
i have try my best.. and i have my pride..
She has her own world. And maybe i have crossed the line one step too far..

from now on.. i want to have my own story, my own life, and my own belief..
That is faith.. and i am not compromising my faith..

Farewell..

Her..

Surely, i have some feelings about her..
For my point of view, she is one of the most admirable person that i've ever met..
She has a power to pursuit her dreams, and she never forgot to the Man that creates Her..

but , i did my mistake....
When someone you appreciates, turned to be the person that want to stay away from you.. it feels like you're gone crazy but you're not. .

Whatever.. ..
i missed her...
And i still treat her as one of my best friend..

But still, the Truth is.. it hurts me.. a lot..

God .. i need your help ...

God , im sorry....

hhmmmm

the feelings is a little bit lighter now..

there are some life problems that still worry me a lot..
I knew that God has His own plan for me. There is some "hidden message" from Him that i couldn't understand at all..

But i have my faith..
its just.. sometimes... its miserable when you ask a bless and forgiveness to the person you hurts a lot..

I'm sorry , Jesus..

Move on

Its going down to normal again.
The climax has over.. and now its the new beginning of my life.
The ends of my education career stimulating the new step of my phase of life. From now on, i can;t depend from any person in this world. I have to be tough and resilient.

I have a big plan, big picture of dream and my futures. I have some career plans, and my dream business. .
In the future i am committed to deliver happiness to all of my best friends, those who helped me through my difficult times, especially my families.

I knew that Some people underestimate me and some others support me. I knew that i did many terrible things in the past to some of my special friends.

Like i said before, sometimes things are just out of control..

For Kelvin

You are pathetic loser..
come on!
get up!

this is not like you . The person who brings happiness all the time to everyone. .
I know you have some tough time, I know you have some big problem ,And I know for sure.. you have God that can back you up to face your problem. .

You just have to keep trying. Some person can be your opponent, but there are many persons that can help you as your true friends. A friends that understand your weaknesses , support your strength, helps you to face your threats and aid you in achieving your goal! you have to be grateful!

And all you need to do is keep trying and praying.
Remember what "she" said to you?

"Do your best, Let God do the rest"

Now this is your decision.. to stop like a loser ..or to move on like a champ..

step forward

sometimes, things are just out of control

i mean, you have build your plan perfectly, the execution went well, but sometimes there are always something that ruin everything.

yeap.. that is what happened in my life recently
when i thought some of my friend support me, some others did not, and some others evolute to become your opposite..

desperation, sad feelings, stress, depression, all mixed together..

and luckily ...

luckily... i have God beside me

so my advice for everyone and for myself in the future:

always count God in to your plan ... esp.. your life's plan

Caricature and my friend

It is interesting.

it is like the form of friendship for me.
(sorry, the color didn't turned to be in proper composure)
I create a caricature of my friends and It is based on their characteristic in my opinion.
Friends that has my caricature is the friends that i respect the most.

Sounds silly, right?
But it is.

Happiness goes into my mind as i have heard the words " Thank you" with smiles from them.
For real it is like a blessing for me to have seen such situation.

But lately, for the first time, my caricature bring a deep wound to my friendship.
For the first time , my friend hate me .
i don't know what to do
what should i do

But for me.. when i create the caricature and give it to my friend. Its a symbols of friendship that i won't lose it or even break it.

Now, i have to move on
and still... creating a caricature.

The vision

every designer had to finished their project right before they even started it.
What does it mean?

For example, they have to make a logo for their assignment.

The first thing that they need to do is to bring out some blank paper and a pencil.

Imagination started, and the blank paper turned into a conceptual scretch. They will add some elements, considering a several things, and finally they have done it. The logo has finished..
Now it is the time for the execution. They will start working right after they have finished the logo in a form of a blueprint.
That is what it means by "finished before start"

that's what i loved about design. They have a strong concept of their imaginery world,
they are creative, they are clever, they liked to have a discussion and brainstorming to sharpened their mind, and they have a strong belief to their own masterpiece.

I am business student. I am not taking the design study for several private reason.
Essentially, i do have my interest in building a business in the future. My own vision is to mix the elements of economic and design in one field of business.

I though it was going well. But it was not.

I need to study the concept, fundamentals, and the background of design study. I have to understand what it takes to be a designers. I need to be a creative person.

My vision is to creates a magazine, sells it, and let everyone read it. Yes, everyone in the world.
A magazine that contains an information about the business world, economics, design, etc.

creating a magazine is not the thing that i expected. But lately, i have to do some magazine project for church-purpose and i finally find out, what is the meaning of "interesting"

the biggest achievement is to see the reader's happy face after reading the magz.

I know it was like a daydreaming for me to publish a worldwide magazine. But one day, i'll do that. one day.. and i know i have a friends, family, and God standing beside me and help me to achieve it.

One day. But not today.