Abstract
This chapter contains a summary of the main issues raised and the findings in this book as regards the current situation and the policies that exist for research and innovation, in general, as well as in the field of Transport more specifically, in the three countries examined i.e. the P.R. China, Japan, and Korea. This summary, is given in a synthetic way that gives considerable “value added” but nevertheless does not replace the detailed data, information and analyses that are given in each respective Chapter. It also explains the rationale for writing this book and the reason for focusing on the public sector, while by no means dismissing the role of the private sector and the public-private collaborations. The focus of the Chapter is on the governmental systems and practices for transport research in the three countries, providing a good overview of the inertias as well as the accelerants for relevant policies with respect to promoting technological change and more international cooperation in the transportation sector. For each of the countries examined the Chapter addresses, in summary form, the policies, the governance structures, the strengths and weaknesses of the current systems of publicly funded transport research; the endogenous and exogenous factors motivating the development of international collaborative relationships between these Asian and other countries; the role of the private sector; and also the core scientific research capabilities and prospects of each of the countries in as much as they affect the transport sector. The capacity and capability of the countries examined, to consistently produce the science necessary to enable significant technological innovation and “transformative” change in the Transport sector, globally over the long term (e.g., in 20 years or more) as well as nationally, is examined through a synthesis of the SWOT analyses that are made in each of the other Chapters. These analyses are focused toward the assessment of the prospects for international cooperation in the transport field for these three countries. The Chapter concludes that if entrepreneurial activity by private interests over the past 5 years, is a valid leading indicator it appears that transportation innovation will be propelled forward globally primarily via private interests and not so much through agreements consummated by government agencies.
All views expressed here are those of the authors alone and do not reflect the views of the Organisations they are connected with.
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Notes
- 1.
That report was submitted in 2009 and was made widely available in English through the channels of the TRB and ECTRI Organizations as well as (in French) through the channels of the French Transport Research Institute IFSTTAR (then INRETS) and the Greek Transport Research Institute HIT. See for example at: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/general/EU-USResearch.pdf) or http://hit.certh.gr.
- 2.
By “China” we mean the People’s Republic of China (P.R. China).
- 3.
By “Korea” we mean the Republic of South Korea.
- 4.
The transportation infrastructures of today look much like they did during the latter half of the 20th century when national highway systems were built in the United States and Europe. In the case of the US and quite literally, if President Eisenhower—the father of the US Interstate highway system—could wake up today and take a short ride down the interstate system in Kansas (where he was born), and apart from new vehicle models, he would swear it was still 1959.
- 5.
Detroit is still struggling to keep up with international competitors and car manufacturers and is always strongly influenced by decisions of the US Congress in taking certain innovatory measures such as in the environmental field. For example, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards (established by the US Congress in response to the exogenous 1973 oil embargo) have facilitated automobile efficiencies since 1973. Surprisingly, President Trump indicated that he is favoring weakening or removing these standards. The underlying rationale for his thinking is rather unclear and seem contrary to the overall direction of the market.
- 6.
A “perfect storm” is an expression that describes an unpredicted event (or events) where a random combination of physical or social circumstances transforms a situation drastically. “Perfect storms” are either positive or negative in their consequences.
- 7.
We use these terms interchangeably.
- 8.
I.e. doing something that is pointless or insignificant, or which soon will be overtaken by events.
- 9.
Brexit is a commonly used term for the United Kingdom’s planned withdrawal from the European Union following the 2016 referendum vote. Britain is on course to leave the European Union by 2019.
- 10.
In game-theory, a zero-sum game is a situation in which opposing players’ gain or loss of utility is exactly balanced by the losses or gains in the utility of the other players.
- 11.
- 12.
EVs charged in China produce two to five times as much smog-forming particulate matter and chemicals as gas-engine cars, studies find, see https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-coal-powered-china-electric-car-surge-fuels-fear-of-worsening-smog/.
- 13.
Ironically, while China has a huge population it is also facing an aging population that is not growing. China could in the future face demographic problems like those limiting scientific talent in Japan!
- 14.
- 15.
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- 18.
- 19.
Stands for “Build Your Dreams”.
- 20.
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- 22.
For example, on September 6th, 2014, a five-year memorandum of understanding established the China-US Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Policy Laboratory, partnership between U.C. Davis, the world’s leading university on sustainable transportation, and CATARC, the administrative body that oversees and regulates many activities of the auto industry in China, the world’s largest new car market. One of the purposes of this collaboration is to enable California to benefit from China’s success in creating a successful EV infrastructure. (https://www.cbinsights.com/blog/autonomous-driverless-vehicles-corporations-list/).
- 23.
With the new business models, rail operators managed to cover the logistics services client requirements and to provide new services, which along the way developed from full container load (FCL) to less-than-container load (LCL) solutions, attracting more customers.
- 24.
- 25.
- 26.
John Maynard Keynes argued that investment, which responds to variations in the interest rate and to expectations about the future, is the dynamic factor determining the level of economic activity. He also maintained that deliberate government action could foster full employment. Keynesian economists claim that the government can directly influence the demand for goods and services by altering tax policies and public expenditures.
- 27.
Mark Taylor, in the book, The Politics of Innovation (Taylor 2016), mentions “insecurity” as a powerful inducement for national innovation. Hence, the Cold War was a powerful incentive for the United States forming NASA and landing on the moon and the myriad of DARPA-funded breakthroughs that are enabling the current transportation revolution. The question is whether President Trump’s expressed policies for priorities to domestic issues and less attention to the world stage will precipitate enhanced innovation in Europe, Japan, and Korea due the insecurity created by the United States’ new attitudes of isolation.
- 28.
In a chapter written by Erica Fuchs, in (Block and Keller 2011) entitled “DARPA Does Moore’s Law: The Case of DARPA and Optoelectronic Interconnects” it is asserted that “Advancements in chip technology are gradually slowing and Moore’s law may not be applicable for much longer”. This reality could slow the transportation revolution and many scientists and transportation engineers are calling for significant increases in the funding for DARPA.
- 29.
The Chaebol is a business conglomerate structure that originated in South Korea in the 1960s, creating global multinationals with huge international operations.
- 30.
See https://www.techinasia.com/talk/reason-consider-south-korea-creative-economy (accessed June 2017).
- 31.
Strength Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT). See Helms and Nixon (2010).
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Bonvillian WB, Weiss Ch (2015) Technological innovation in legacy sectors. Oxford University Press, New York
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Helms MM, Nixon J (2010) Exploring SWOT analysis-where are we now? J Strategy and Manage 3(3)
Taylor MT (2016) Innovation: why some countries are better than others at science and technology. Oxford University Press, New York
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Giannopoulos, G.A., Munro, J.F. (2018). The Case for Transport Research Cooperation with China, Japan, Korea—Rationale for This Book and Summary of Its Findings. In: Giannopoulos, G. (eds) Publicly Funded Transport Research in the P. R. China, Japan, and Korea. Lecture Notes in Mobility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68198-6_1
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