Science in formerly socialist countries: Asset or liability within new societal conditions?

Knowledge and learning are seen as key success factors for international competitiveness and economic growth in contemporary societies and have been placed at the top of the policy agenda in many countries. But actual developments in former socialist countries of Europe and Asia have totally run counter to such aims in the last decade. Science and technology (S&T) in the transformation countries have undergone major changes on all planes, as simultaneously institutional corrections within the S&T system have taken place and the systemic changeover in the political and economic fields has also effected major changes to the size, structure and content of the domestic demand for scientific results and services, and in addition to that, the international opening-up to high-tech imports and other forms of technology transfer has further minimised the need for domestic R&D. Despite big shifts in the spectrum of scientific activities, only partial devaluation of knowledge and skills has taken place, and experience in research has actually proved invaluable in coping with new tasks inside and outside of scientific institutes. But, the inherited institutional preconditions in science and research, along with individual knowledge and levels of educational attainment are not assets and advantages in and of themselves. They must constantly be seen in relation to the overall societal framework. Indeed, the problem seems to be one of how to employ, change and utilise the personnel and other capacities inherited from the socialist era, with the abilities, skills, experiences etc. that it has, in such a way that it is able to meet the new demands, to cope with the challenges and to act as an asset under conditions of globalisation.