Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!paul.rutgers.edu!yoko.rutgers.edu!halldors From: halldors@yoko.rutgers.edu (Magnus M Halldorsson) Newsgroups: comp.theory Subject: Re: Japanese-owned research labs in US Message-ID: Date: 12 Nov 90 18:51:07 GMT References: <4905@rex.cs.tulane.edu> Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 36 In article <4905@rex.cs.tulane.edu> fs@caesar.cs.tulane.edu (Frank Silbermann) writes: > According to a feature in yesterday's local newspaper, > Japanese computer companies are now trying to open > labs for theoretical research _in America_, > by hiring top American researchers away from > American labs and universities. New York Times had a front page article of this sort yesterday. While attempting to provide varying opinions, the undercurrent theme was "the Japanese are draining our brainpower". I couldn't help finding it most short-sighted. The basic assumption was that those hired by Japanese companies are our loss. That completely ignores the fact that the number of computer science researchers is no constant, but heavily dependent of demand, i.e. the availability of CS research jobs. Without research jobs, you can't expect much research. With the decline of Bell Labs, the tough situation for IBM,DEC, and Unisys, declining defense spenditures, and generally worsening economic situation, research and development are bound to suffer. A sudden influx of R&D capital is like a shot against these negative factors. Not only does it provide significant number of well paying jobs, but will result in a larger total number of qualified CS researchers in this country. Would we like the possible alternatives: that they start attracting more people to move, and eventually settle in Japan? That they locate their research centers, say, in Canada? Or that they hire only non-U.S. citizens? Magnus M. Halldorsson [ Want to hire a super-duper TCS person? Make me an offer I can't refuse... :-) ]