Types of collaboration maintained with scientific
institutions in Spain
To reflect the nature of the scientific collaboration, this
variable was measured by 15 items in a dichotomous
format (yes or not). Given the definition of collaboration
adopted in this paper, there are four types of
essential collaborations to make good use of the knowledge
of Spanish researchers abroad and to increase the
possibilities of their returning to public scientific institutions:
(1) elaborating joint publications, (2) applying
for patents, (3) implementing joint research projects,
and (4) attending conferences. Further, collaborations
such as (5) obtaining research contracts and (6) execution/
tutoring of PhD theses can help in this regard.
Additionally, since, in order to access vacancies in
Spanish public institutions professional experience is
increasingly valued, the following aspects can be
highlighted: (7) consultancy jobs, (8) informal contacts/
business placements, (9) participation in networks by
electronic means, (10) spin-off creation, (11) employee
training, (12) funding procurement for the Spanish
institutions, (13) creation of new or improved products
or processes, (14) influence in socio-political changes,
and (15) recruiting of researchers for scientific Spanish
institutions. All these aspects may also be valued by
Spanish companies or other private organizations in
order to start internationalization processes and obtain
enhanced knowledge of professional activities developed
in other countries.
Following the approach by Baruffaldi and Landoni [12],
different variables were considered to create the participants
profile: areas of knowledge, sex, age, duration of the
stay abroad, career stage, host country, the reasons to move
out from the national country and intention and possibility
of returning to continue with scientific career in Spain.
Two more variables were added to take into accoun