The Case for Transport Research Cooperation with China, Japan, Korea—Rationale for This Book and Summary of Its Findings

This chapter contains a summary of the main issues raised and the findings in this book as regards the current situation and the policies that exist for research and innovation, in general, as well as in the field of Transport more specifically, in the three countries examined i.e. the P.R. China, Japan, and Korea. This summary, is given in a synthetic way that gives considerable “value added” but nevertheless does not replace the detailed data, information and analyses that are given in each respective Chapter. It also explains the rationale for writing this book and the reason for focusing on the public sector, while by no means dismissing the role of the private sector and the public-private collaborations. The focus of the Chapter is on the governmental systems and practices for transport research in the three countries, providing a good overview of the inertias as well as the accelerants for relevant policies with respect to promoting technological change and more international cooperation in the transportation sector. For each of the countries examined the Chapter addresses, in summary form, the policies, the governance structures, the strengths and weaknesses of the current systems of publicly funded transport research; the endogenous and exogenous factors motivating the development of international collaborative relationships between these Asian and other countries; the role of the private sector; and also the core scientific research capabilities and prospects of each of the countries in as much as they affect the transport sector. The capacity and capability of the countries examined, to consistently produce the science necessary to enable significant technological innovation and “transformative” change in the Transport sector, globally over the long term (e.g., in 20 years or more) as well as nationally, is examined through a synthesis of the SWOT analyses that are made in each of the other Chapters. These analyses are focused toward the assessment of the prospects for international cooperation in the transport field for these three countries. The Chapter concludes that if entrepreneurial activity by private interests over the past 5 years, is a valid leading indicator it appears that transportation innovation will be propelled forward globally primarily via private interests and not so much through agreements consummated by government agencies.