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High Tech Indicators- 2002 Questionnaire

We invite you to serve as a member of the International Technology Indicators Panel for the term 2002-2004. We seek your judgement on 16 questions for a particular nation. We will combine these expert judgements with various quantitative measures to generate indicators of national technological competitiveness for 33 countries. Since the late 1980's, this work has been assisted by support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, which used the results in Science and Engineering Indicators. If you'd like additional information about the High Tech Indicators Project, please click the "Project Summary" page or the link buttons to visit our website: http://tpac.gatech.edu.

RESPONSE CATEGORIES: Most questions request responses on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (question E ranges from 1 to 6), but note that the scales vary from item to item, as indicated. For some items, "2" and "4" are not explicitly defined; in those cases, take them to be intermediate in value. Be sure to mark your answers at each question you address.

Please complete your contact information, as appropriate (in English). We will not attribute any response to an individual.

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A. For which country or region are you responding? (Please check one target country only; and repeat the procedure for each different country,  if you are familiar with 2 or 3):

                                               

B. Please assess your familiarity with technology-intensive development in this country:

  1. Less familiar (i.e., limited familiarity with the country or with technology-intensive products in this part of the world).
  2. Moderately familiar (i.e., somewhat familiar with these issues and the country; or, perhaps, quite familiar with the country, but not particularly familiar with concerns specific to technology-intensive products).
  3. Highly familiar (i.e., very knowledgeable about such issues in this country).
  4. Expert (i.e., considerable personal experience in the country or extended study of technology-based products there over several years).

                                                          

C. To what extent does this country's government evidence a deliberate strategy to promote technology-intensive production for export?            

  1. No evidence of a strategy for achieving export competitiveness for technology-intensive products.
  2. [Between 1 and 3]
  3. Country has an identifiable (explicit or implicit) plan to promote technology-intensive development for export as part of a broader development strategy.
  4. [Between 3 and 5]
  5. Country has strong national commitment to being competitive in technology-intensive products as a central element in export-oriented economic development plans and/or actions.

D. To what extent do this country's basic cultural values associate technology and technological change with desirable social development?

  1. Not at all
  2. Slightly
  3. Somewhat
  4. Mostly
  5. Generally regarded as the key to social development

E. How closely do influential groups (e.g., unions, trade associations, religious organizations) in the country associate technology with disirable social development? For instance, one could imagine some groups not being favorably disposed toward introduction of more technologies. Or, some societies may emphasize redistributive measures, such as land reform, over technology-intensive industial developoment.

  1. "Influential groups" are not a major political force in this country.
  2. Most groups do not believe technology is important to their increased social well-being.
  3. [Between 1 and 3]
  4. Most groups accept changing technologies as part of their lives, but are not committed to technological innovation as the key  to social development.
  5. [Between 3 and 5]
    6.
  6. Most groups accept emphasis on effective use of advancing technologies as the key to social development.

                                            

F. Please rate the presence of an "entrepreneurial spirit" in this country. That is, to what extent are its citizens, especially the business community, predisposed toward innovative action and economic risk-taking?

  1. There exists little or no entrepreneurial activity; the business community is highly risk-averse.
  2. There exist "pockets," or highly circumscribed domains, of entrepreneurial activity.
  3. There exists a moderate amount of entrepreneurial activity.
  4. Considerable entrepreneurial activity is present in several key sectors of the economy.
    5.
  5. Entrepreneurship and innovative business activity is very strong and widespread.

                                                           

G. Aside from the amount of financial resources, it is also important to assess the extent to which such resources can be mobilized to support technology-intensive development. Please judge the mobility of capital in this country.

  1. Available financial resources are rigidly committed to relatively few sectors or organizations; reallocation is very difficult.
  2. [Between 1 and 3]
  3. Available financial resources can be mobilized and reallocated, but tend to be slow to respond to innovative opportunities.
  4. [Between 3 and 5]
    5.
  5. Available financial resources are fluid and highly responsive to new areas that promise payoff.

                                              

H. Please rate the quantity and quality of skilled manufacturing labor available in this country.

  1. Would-be manufacturers find only minimal numbers of able manufacturing workers.
  2. [Between 1 and 3]
  3. The majority of the work force is potentially capable (i.e., functionally literate), but there is a limited supply of workers with manufacturing experience.
  4. [Between 3 and 5]
    5.
  5. An extensive and reliable pool of well-trained and experienced manufacturing workers is available.

                                              

I. To what extent is this country capable of replenishing and increasing its supply of qualified, graduate-level (post-baccalaureate) scientists and engineers via local (indigenous) training and educational institutions?

  1. Local institutions do not have graduate science and engineering programs to any significant extent; virtually all scientists and engineers receive advanced training abroad (e.g., fewer than 5% are trained locally).
  2. About 20% of the country's scientists and engineers receive advanced training locally.
  3. A majority of scientists and engineers receive advanced training abroad, but significant numbers receive such training locally (perhaps, 33% or so).
  4. Perhaps 50% receive advanced training locally.
  5. Two-thirds or more of the country's scientists and engineers obtain their graduate training locally.

                                         

J. How would you characterize this country's contribution to the international pool of significant scientific and technical knowledge?

  1. Essentially no indigenous science or engineering research is done.
  2. Some scientific and engineering research is done, but few papers or patents are produced by local scientists or engineers.
  3. The nation's scientific and engineering community is beginning to contribute to the international literature and patents.
  4. The nation's scientific and engineering community contributes significantly to the international literature and patents.
  5. The nation's scientific and engineering community is among the leaders in a number of technology-intensive fields internationally.

K. To what extent do research and development (R&D) activities in this country relate to industrial enterprise?

  1. No significant R&D activity with industrial relevance is taking place in the country.
  2. Some R&D activity with potential industrial relevance takes place, but there is essentially no linkage to industrial enterprise.
  3. R&D activity with potential industrial relevance takes place, but linkage to industrial enterprise is weak.
  4. R&D activity with industrial relevance takes place and is moderately well linked to industrial enterprise.
  5. Significant R&D activity with industrial relevance takes place and is effectively linked to industrial enterprise.

L. To what extent are foreign-owned firms encouraged to do business in this country?

  1. Operations by foreign-owned firms are prohibited.
  2. Severe restrictions are placed on foreign-owned firms.
  3. Operations of foreign-owned firms generally remain isolated from indigenous business enterprises (e.g., "platform" manufacturing for direct export).
  4. Foreign-owned firms are encouraged to operate in the country but there are no explicit mechanisms to transfer knowledge to indigenous businesses.
  5. Foreign-owned firms are encouraged to operate in this country and to integrate some of their efforts with indigenous business to foster transfer of knowledge.

M. The acquisition of "technological mastery" (the ability to make effective use of technological knowledge) is critical to development of technology-intensive products. To what degree has this country achieved technological mastery?

  1. Most technology-intensive processes and products are imported and utilized with no local adaptation or improvements.
  2. Some capability to modify and improve production processes exists.
  3. Indigenous capability exists to establish new production facilities and products.
  4. Indigenous capability exists to generate new production facilities and products embodying advanced technology plant and equipment.
  5. R&D capability exists to generate new technical knowledge leading to original, technology-intensive products.

N. To what extent does a system of indigenous producers of components for technology-intensive products exist?

  1. Virtually all such components must be imported.
  2. [Between 1 and 3]
  3. Although many such components must be imported, local producers supply some components.
  4. [Between 3 and 5]
  5. Local producers supply most such component needs.
    6.

O. Please rate indigenous industrial management capabilities to develop, produce, and market technology-intensive products

  1. Few indigenous managers possess significant training or manufacturing experience.
  2. [Between 1 and 3]
  3. Some skilled managers compare well with managers in successful firms internationally.
  4. [Between 3 and 5]
  5. An expansive indigenous supply of skilled, experienced managers exists across a broad spectrum of industries.

                                          

P. Please characterize present and future technology-intensive production in this country. Judge the nature of production, overall, and for each of 10 sectors for which you feel reasonably familiar: first, today, and second, 15 years in the future. Please elaborate on any of your responses in the block at the end.

  1. Essentially no production in this sector
  2. Nearly all production in this sector is relatively low value-added assembly
  3. Some indigenous production capability in this sector, largely of standard products
  4. Considerable indigenous manufacturing activity in this sector with products well-respected for quality and value in international markets
  5. Extensive indigenous manufacturing activity in this sector with products considered technically advanced, "state-of-the-art" in international markets.

    Sector

    		Present Production Capability Likely Capability in 15 Years

    Overall Technology-intensive products

    Aerospace

    Chemicals & Plastics

    Computers

    Software

    Machine Tools & Robotics

    Medicine & Biologicals

    Scientific/Precision Equipment

    Telecommunications Equipment

    Information-intensive Services

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