By Qamar Bashir
R&D and publication of research papers are the lifeblood of a nation’s prosperity. By
fostering innovation, they fuel economic growth through new products, efficient
processes, and a competitive edge in the global market. This translates to wealth creation
via high-paying jobs, intellectual property, and a reputation for leadership that attracts
talent and boosts international standing.
R&D and research publications don't just benefit the economy; they fuel social progress
by tackling global challenges and improving lives. In essence, strong R&D, quality
research publications are the key to unlocking a nation's full potential on the world stage.
This statement is fully endorsed when one browses through World Bank data
(https://data.worldbank.org/) can draw two conclusions; a country's wealth, prosperity,
power, and global leadership are directly proportional to the amount of spending on R&D
as a percentage of GDP and from the 1990s onward, there has been a marked shift in
R&D spending from the US and Europe to Asian countries, primarily led by China, South
Korea, Singapore, Israel and India.
According to World Bank data, the countries that prioritize spending on R&D as a
percentage of their GDP are the USA which spent 3.4%, the UK 2.9%, Sweden 3.4%,
Singapore 2.16%, South Korea 4.93%, Japan 3.35%, Israel 5.56%, Germany 3.145%, and
China 2.43%. Followed by at 0.65%, while Pakistan and Afghanistan are lagging behind
with only 0.16% and zero percent spending on R&D, respectively.
Historically, the USA and Europe maintained their dominance during the 1970s and
1980s with Japan closely following, particularly in the automotive and electronics
industries, challenging Western dominance.
However, the trend started shifting toward Asia in the 1990s when South Korea began
investing heavily in R&D, particularly in electronics and semiconductor technology,
leading to the rise of companies like Samsung and LG as global innovators. In the 2000s,
China's R&D landscape started to transform rapidly, fueled by government investments, a
growing economy, and a focus on developing indigenous innovation capabilities. India
followed particularly in the software and pharmaceutical sectors, leveraging its large pool
of skilled talent.
This shift in R&D became even more significant in the 2010s when China surpassed
Japan to become the world's second-largest spender on R&D after the USA, focusing on
areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Other Asian
countries, including Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia, continued to invest in R&D
infrastructure and capabilities especially in electronics while also investing in emerging
technologies such as 5G and robotics.
In the 2020s, the COVID-19 pandemic countries like China, South Korea, and India
made significant contributions to vaccine development and medical research. During this
period, China’s focus on becoming a global leader in science and technology intensified,
with initiatives such as the "Made in China 2025" plan aiming to strengthen domestic
innovation and reduce dependence on foreign technology.
The second most important factor pivotal for achieving fast-tracked prosperity and
development is the number of research publications a country can produce. The US and
Europe dominated this domain for a long time, but after the 1990s, the number and
quality of publications began shifting toward Asia, highlighting changes in global
academic and scientific output, as well as the power centers.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the USA and Europe produced thousands of publications in
fields like physics, chemistry, and medicine while Japan followed especially in
electronics and automotive research.
In the 1990s, the USA consistently produced over 200,000 scientific papers annually
while Japan solidified its position with over 30,000 publications mostly in engineering
and technology. Meanwhile, South Korea and Taiwan began to emerge as players, each
producing thousands of publications annually due to increased funding and international
collaboration.
During the 2000s the USA produced 300,000 publications and Europe exceeded 500,000
publications annually. But during this period, Asia started challenging their dominance.
China increased its publication to 200,000, South Korea reached around 50,000 and
India followed closely by increasing its output to 50,000 by the end of the decade but
with questionable quality.
In the decade of the 2010s, the USA and Europe produced approximately 400,000 and
600,000 publications, China surpassed the USA by reaching over 500,000 high quality
and hi impact publications. India produced around 130,000 publications, particularly in
engineering and computer science. South Korea reached around 80,000 annually,
primarily focusing on fields like electronics and biotechnology.
In the 2020s, the USA produced around 450,000 publications annually, and Europe
produced 700,000 publications annually. However, they were faced with a strong rival in
China, which produces 600,000 high-quality publications annually, with significant
contributions in fields like AI, biotechnology, and environmental science. India follows
with 150,000 publications in pharmaceuticals, engineering, and IT, and South Korea with
100,000 publications annually in high-impact research, especially in technology and life
sciences.
This shift is also translated into a proportional increase in their wealth, prosperity,
credibility, international status, and power, transforming the world from unipolar to
multipolar and breaking the hegemony of traditional power centers.
It is the time for Pakistan to rise to the occasion and contribute its share to make Asia the
powerhouse of R&D and research publications. Pakistan must understand that, without
substantially increasing its spending on R&D and promoting the publication of high-
quality research, it has no choice but to heavily invest in R&D and higher education and
create robust infrastructures for scientific research. It must bring about education reforms
to substantially increase the quality and accessibility of education and produce a larger
pool of researchers and scientists. Pakistan must also focus on international collaboration
with top Western and Asian institutions to facilitate knowledge transfer and boost
publication output, while ensuring the presence of vibrant innovation ecosystems. Failing
to do so, Pakistan will remain a poor country, and its dream to bring half of the
population out of the abject poverty trap and to gain a leadership role in the comity of
