An analysis of national collaboration with Spanish researchers abroad in the health sciences

Abstract

BackgroundThe establishment of scientific collaborations with researchers abroad can be considered a good practice to make appropriate use of their knowledge and to increase the possibilities of them returning to their country. This paper analyses the collaboration between Spanish researchers abroad devoted to health sciences and national science institutions.MethodsWe used the Fontes’ approach to perform a study on this collaboration with Spanish researchers abroad. We measured the level of national and international cooperation, the opportunity provided by the host country to collaborate, the promotion of collaboration by national science institutions, and the types of collaboration. A total of 88 biomedical researchers out of the 268 Spanish scientists who filled up the survey participated in the study. Different data analyses were performed to study the variables selected to measure the scientific collaboration and profile of Spanish researchers abroad.ResultsThere is a high level of cooperation between Spanish health science researchers abroad and international institutions, which contrasts with the small-scale collaboration with national institutions. Host countries facilitate this collaboration with national and international scientific institutions to a larger extent than the level of collaboration promotion carried out by Spanish institutions.ConclusionsThe national collaboration with Spanish researchers abroad in the health sciences is limited. Thus, the practice of making appropriate use of the potential of their expertise should be promoted and the opportunities for Spanish health science researchers to return home should be improved.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12961-015-0055-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Scientific Mobility, Training and Entrepreneurial Skills in Health Sciences: The Spanish Case

“…In accordance with this profile for these three groups, and what has been explained above [ 61 , 80 ], the creation of job opportunities becomes a key part of scientific mobility, as has been highlighted in various surveys carried out for the health area [ 74 , 75 ], so the health authorities could achieve adequate scientific mobility if they provided the conditions for such job opportunities to be created or created the job opportunities directly.…”

“…In this regard, some papers [ 74 ] highlight a series of key measures that could encourage return, such as stable funding, salary, recognition of scientific careers, and the implementation of Social Responsibility in the organization they work for. Suitable working conditions and personal benefits could also be established to encourage this return, as shown in other papers [ 75 ]. A key organization for the application of these measures of a social nature would be the universities through their Social Responsibility for their capacity to produce a positive impact on society through higher education, research, knowledge transfer, and sustainability [ 90 , 91 ].…”

“…According to Merton [ 79 ], these advantages are the following: training, funding, the prestige of the host institution, excellent teamwork, and research career. The most decisive variables for the progress of this group in Health Sciences in Spain are focused on these differential advantages [ 75 ]. The definition of this group is that of researchers who have started doctoral courses in Spain and have continued to carry out scientific work until the age of 41.…”

“…Likewise, various surveys conducted for the health area [ 74 , 75 ] show that the decision of Spanish researchers to return depends to a large extent on whether they are offered job opportunities, so the health authorities and administrators have the possibility of establishing measures to encourage this return. These measures could also be accompanied by others to ensure that these researchers at least collaborate with Spanish science, as the degree of an international collaboration of these researchers is quite high compared to the lower level of collaboration with national scientific institutions [ 76 ].…”

Knowledge Transfer in Sustainable Contexts: A Comparative Analysis of Periods of Financial Recession and Expansion

“…Specifically, it analyzed data on the firms that have used intellectual property to determine these firms' behavior and the relationship they establish between knowledge and eco-innovation. The Spanish case is relevant due to the intense need for policies to stimulate knowledge in Spanish companies, promote collaboration [93], and promote entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship [94]. This could provide the transfer of knowledge.…”