Title: Transnational science guanxi: a necessary, but insufficient, condition for Sino-Danish flows of knowledge, talent and capital in genetics

Authors: Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen; Xiangyun Du; Morten Karnøe Søndergaard

Addresses: UiT, Postboks 6050, Langnes, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway; AAU, Fredrik Bajers Vej 5, Postboks 159, DK-9100 Aalborg, Denmark ' AAU, Fredrik Bajers Vej 5, Postboks 159, DK-9100 Aalborg, Denmark ' AAU, Fredrik Bajers Vej 5, Postboks 159, DK-9100 Aalborg, Denmark

Abstract: Genetics is observed as a particularly active field of Sino-Danish science collaboration, brain circulation and funding. Explaining the level of activity of this scientific field is therefore valuable for understanding the conditions allowing such activity. This paper identifies Danish scientific excellence as a necessary, but insufficient, condition. This condition becomes sufficient together with another necessary, but insufficient, condition, which is Sino-Danish transnational science guanxi, or networks and acquaintanceship. This guanxi is based on the previous graduate studies of Chinese in Denmark, or brain circulation. The paper finds that brain circulation in the form of graduate students can have revolutionary long-term effects on Sino-Danish science collaboration and investments, exemplified in the location of Beijing Genomics Institute Europe in Copenhagen.

Keywords: China; Denmark; brain circulation; genetics; transnational networks; networking; science guanxi; knowledge flows; talent flows; capital flows; scientific collaboration; funding; scientific excellence; graduate students.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2016.075742

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2016 Vol.16 No.3, pp.228 - 244

Received: 20 Apr 2015
Accepted: 18 Sep 2015
Published online: 01 Apr 2016 *

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