Analysis

January 2011, Daniel Chéron :

" I would like to share information with you on the report just published by UNESCO on the state of science in the world. This report provides an analysis on trends and developments that have influenced scientific research, innovation and higher education over the past five years.

In my opinion, this report prefigures tomorrow's world. North America still represents 34.9% of world R&D expenditure and remains out in front well ahead of Europe with 27.4%. As for Asia, it has soared up to 32.2% over the past few years, with China and India both increasing their expenditure as a percentage of their GDP.

In particular, the report emphasizes that China and India have benefited from their new economic power to invest in high tech companies outside their borders in order to acquire the technological expertise they need.

Even more surprising is the number of researchers throughout the world. China, which employed 1.4 million researchers in 2007 (almost one researcher in five is Chinese), is about to overtake the United States and the European Union. At the same time, India is going to create 30 universities, moving up from 15 million to 21 million students in 2012.

Those who consider that emerging countries might only be low-price producers of products mainly consumed in Western countries had better think again. Japan, China, Korea, and India are beginning confirm their technological and economic leadership as we move into a new decade.

Our sector will be no exception to this evolution. Leading seed companies from these emerging countries will begin to appear in the world hierarchy. As holders of competitive technologies and helped by a strong political commitment, they will be seeking access to a market share in the West. "