Continuity of International Collaborations with the Country of Origin: The Case of Highly Cited Migrant Researchers from Developing Countries

抄録

This study examined return and international scientific collaborations of highly cited researchers who had moved abroad from developing countries, using curricula vitae and bibliographic data. Collaborations between migrated talent and their colleagues in the countries of origin could have a positive impact, such as in knowledge creation and accumulation of scientific and technological human capital in the home countries. The results showed that during their stay abroad after earning doctorate degrees, 54 of 143 targeted researchers (37.8%) whose papers were correctly identified had published at least one paper in collaboration with researchers in their countries of origin. The migrant researchers tended to obtain their doctoral degrees abroad. However, those who earned a degree in their originating countries tended to collaborate more with researchers in those countries and later return home. The results also tentatively indicate that career-related factors, such as scientific achievement, motivate these collaborations.