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Asian AI Researchers

As the largest source of undergraduates who go on to become top-tier AI researchers, Asia is a crucial link in the chain of AI research. But it is also a region subject to large-scale outbound immigration and brain drain. Here we look at the patterns of movement of researchers who completed their undergraduate degrees in Asia.

Note: All charts below are based on data drawn from papers accepted at NeurIPS 2019. We define Asia as all countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East (with the exception of Israel and Turkey), and Russia. For more on the study, see the detailed Methodology.

Where do top-tier Asian AI researchers come from?
Note: Country affiliations are based on where the researchers received their undergraduate degree within Asia.

China is the largest source of top-tier AI researchers from Asia, producing more than three times that of the next largest source, India. Iran is also a significant source of talent, accounting for around 7% of top-tier AI researchers from Asia.

Where do top-tier Chinese AI researchers go for graduate school?
Note: Country affiliations are based on where the researchers attend graduate school.

Most top-tier AI researchers who received their undergraduate degree in China head to the United States for graduate education. However, nearly one-third of these Chinese undergraduates stay in China for graduate school.

Where do top-tier Indian AI researchers go for graduate school?
Note: Country affiliations are based on where the researchers attend graduate school. Europe’s share is based on smaller counts compared to other questions in the study.

The United States is the most popular destination for Indian undergraduates to pursue their graduate degree. Europe ranks second as a home for these graduate students. Only a small portion of Indian researchers remain in India.

Where do top-tier Asian AI researchers work after receiving a graduate degree in America?
Note: Country affiliations are based on headquarters of the researcher’s current institution. This does not include current graduate students.

The overwhelming majority of Asian researchers who attend graduate school in the United States choose to work for US-based institutions after graduation. Just one in ten researchers from this group go on to work for firms and universities that are based in China, with an even smaller portion working for institutions based in other countries.

Where do top-tier Asian AI researchers work after receiving a graduate degree in Asia?
Note: Country affiliations are based on headquarters of the researcher’s current institution. This does not include current graduate students.

On the other hand, Asian AI researchers who pursue their graduate degrees within Asia tend to work for companies across a more diverse range of countries.

Where do the best-of-the-best (top 0.5%) Asian AI researchers come from?
Note: Data from authors of papers selected for Oral Presentations at NeurIPS 2019 (acceptance rate of 0.5%). Country affiliations are based on where the researchers received their undergraduate degree.

Papers selected for Oral Presentations at NeurIPS 2019 represent the most elite papers at this already elite conference. Researchers from India and China comprise the vast majority of Asian researchers whose papers were selected for this group. Iran and South Korea were the only two other Asian sources of this elite talent.