Скачать или смотреть The Silk Road of Science: How China Is Challenging U.S. Scientific Leadership

Is China on the verge of surpassing the United States in global scientific leadership? Beyond publication volume, new data-driven evidence reveals how Beijing is building a “Silk Road of Science”, reshaping the hierarchies of innovation and geopolitical influence through education and international collaboration.

In this exclusive webinar hosted by the Institute of Economics at Unicamp, Dr. Christopher Esposito (UCLA Anderson School of Management) presents groundbreaking research on the economic geography of innovation. Using a massive dataset (Microsoft Academic Graph) and advanced machine-learning techniques, Esposito maps millions of scientific articles to distinguish who the “leaders” (those designing the research) and “supporters” (those executing technical tasks) are in global collaborations.

The presentation challenges the traditional view that China merely supplies scientific labor. Instead, the data show a clear trend: China is rapidly closing the leadership gap with the U.S. and has already established a dominant position in collaborations with Central Asia, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa—forming what Esposito calls the “Silk Road of Science.” The study details how multi-billion-dollar investments in educating foreign students from these regions are creating a durable sphere of influence, where scientific production serves both local development and China’s strategic interests.

Beyond quantitative findings, the discussion explores the political implications of this shift. Esposito argues that, rather than building barriers, the West’s most effective response would be to “compete by educating,” replicating the model of attracting global talent. The Q&A session, moderated by Prof. Roberto Borghi, delves into pressing issues such as publication quality, researcher mobility, and the (still underexplored) potential for collaboration with Latin America.

A Big-Data-driven analysis essential for understanding the new world order in science, offering deep insights into how human capital and strategic collaboration are shaping the future of technological innovation.

#Science #Innovation #Geopolitics #China #unicamp

[00:08] Opening and Introduction: Geography of Innovation (Prof. Roberto Borghi)
[02:14] Research Overview: Hierarchies in Global Scientific Leadership
[06:07] Theory: Global Value Chains Applied to Science
[12:30] Methodology: Analyzing 80 Million Articles with Machine Learning
[17:28] Data Landscape: The Growth of China–Silk Road Collaborations
[26:11] Comparative Analysis: China Catching Up with the U.S. (2010–2021)
[39:56] Building the “Silk Road of Science”: Students and Investment
[46:42] Policy Conclusions: Competing Through Global Education
[53:25] Q&A: Quality and Impact of Chinese Publications
[01:08:14] Q&A: Latin America’s Role and Collaboration Opportunities

Quando: 16 de novembro, às 14:00.

Organização: Renato Garcia, Mauricio Serra e Suelene Mascarini