Promoting Knowledge Exchange through Diaspora Networks (The Case of People’s Republic of China)

By Xiang Biao

Abstract:

It is estimated that there are approximately 1.1 million overseas Chinese professionals (OCPs), including 0.6 million who left China before 1978, and 0.52 million who emigrated after that. Among them a total of 0.8 million have completed education and therefore form a “mature” pool of professionals. The OCPs have become a special constituency of the Chinese government. A wide range of government and semi-government agencies have put in place nearly 200 policies specifically for this group and initiated numerous programs to facilitate their return, and to enable them to establish contacts with the motherland.

Compared to the impressive progress in practice, however, research lags far behind. There is almost no systematic information and analysis of either spontaneously developed knowledge networks, or of the government initiatives. In this context, this project aims to map out the current situation of knowledge exchange through migrant networks and recommend measures for improvement. Instead of focusing on formal policy design and the permanent return of OCPs—the two issues that most existing research has focused on—this study pays special attention to the dynamisms of network building and the operational process of government programs.

This project was funded by the Asian Development Bank, and was designed and carried out by the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), in close association with the Departments of Policy Research and of Economy and Technology of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO), State Council, People’s Republic of China, during February 2004–March 2005

To download the full report (.pdf) click here (>100 pages)

For the Chinese version of the report - click here (.pdf)

The report on the project can be found at the official website of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, State Council, People's Republic of China - link

For a summary of the project published at id21 - click here

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