Local and international scientific collaborations are crucial for innovation and sustainable development. However, there is a gap in understanding how these collaborations affect national innovation ecosystems. This study examines the dynamics of Triple Helix Relations, focusing on collaborations within Thailand and its international partnerships with the United States and China from 2006 to 2022. I use Shannon's mutual information, enhanced by Loet Leydesdorff, to analyze the synergy among various local sectors and conduct interviews with eighteen researchers and policymakers, utilizing Latour and Woolgar's cycle of credibility. The study delves deeply into the complexities of collaboration dynamics and motivations. The analysis reveals nuanced patterns of collaboration, spanning both within Thailand and across international boundaries.
I distinguish collaborations based on the nationality of partners (Thai-China vs. Thai-U.S.) and subject areas (engineering, medicine, agricultural and biological sciences). The findings show significant variation in collaboration patterns depending on these factors. Universities are the main contributors to scientific publications, while the Thai government is more active in medicine and collaborations with the United States. Industry is more engaged in agricultural, biological sciences, and engineering, especially with China.
One recurring theme that emerges from our interviews is the importance of relationship networks as significant assets in collaborative endeavors. Different credibility resources and networks yield varying levels of negotiation power and influence dynamics in different collaborative settings. Understanding these dynamics could assist smaller countries like Thailand in devising strategies to maximize the benefits of international collaborations. Despite the opportunities globalization presents, I observe a decline in local collaborative synergy among Thailand's three sectors, university, government, and industry. Local collaborations are mostly bilateral, indicating a need for greater involvement from the third sector to foster sustainable growth and development.
This study demonstrates the use of STS concepts and various analytical tools, such as co-authored publications and Shannon's mutual information, to showcase collaboration trends and synergy among local sectors in Thailand. The study also includes case studies from diverse countries to consider different conditions affecting collaboration dynamics. Emphasizing recent data, the study aims to capture the evolving landscape of international and local scientific collaborations comprehensively. / Doctor of Philosophy / Scientific collaborations, both local and international, are vital for driving innovation and sustainability worldwide. However, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of how these collaborations impact national innovation ecosystems. This study examines the connections in research collaboration among local sectors within Thailand and the international collaborations involving Thailand, the United States, and China from 2006 to 2022. This study uses tools such as co-authored citations, Shannon's mutual information, and interviews with several researchers and policymakers to gain an understanding of research collaboration dynamics and motivations.
I found that collaboration varies depending on the research partners involved and the areas of study. For example, universities publish most scientific papers in general, while the government is more active in medicine and with the United States. On the other hand, industry is more active in agriculture, biology, and engineering, especially when working with China. The interviews also showed that having connections with other researchers is crucial for successful collaborations. Different networks and credibility resources give different levels of power and influence in these partnerships. Understanding this can help smaller countries like Thailand make the most of their international collaborations.
Despite the benefits of working globally, it is noticed that local collaborations in Thailand are decreasing, mainly sticking to bilateral partnerships between sectors. This shows the need for more involvement from different sectors to promote sustainable economic growth. The study also shows how using different tools helps us understand collaboration trends better. By looking at real-life examples from different countries, this study hope to provide a clear picture of how scientific collaborations are changing over time.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/121545 |
| Date | 04 November 2024 |
| Creators | Petri, Bunyakiat |
| Contributors | Science and Technology Studies, Breslau, Daniel, Halfon, Saul E., Wisnioski, Matthew, Allen, Barbara L. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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