Yes, my resaerch was paid for by the Canadian government and now is on Internet available for free. But, If you think about it carefully, you see that free access to scientific knowllege, like the papers on my site, does not directly translate to free transfer of technology or progress. Only companies or research labs in advanced countries can produce "economic value" out of such research. They paid for me to become a researcher and now they are useing me. My papers are not the valuable asset to Canada, "I" am !!
This is a very important point: access to scientific papers or results are not the same as scientific development. Industrial progress needs much more than papers. Note that all the African or Asian students can access MIT's website and download course notes from the courses being thaught there. But this will never help African countries or China in terms of catching up with US technology.
If you are interested in such debates, read the book: "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor" by David Landes
Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393318885/002-0074640-3561603?v=glance&n=283155 |