International science in a changing geopolitical environment

The researchers are studying the development of international scientific collaboration from the Cold War era to the present day.

The past century has seen almost constantly growing globalization in scientific research. The end of the Cold War marked the beginning of an epoch of seemingly limitless scientific collaboration, both literally and figuratively speaking. But over the past decade international economic, political and technological tensions have risen. These tensions alter, and potentially jeopardize, conditions for international academic exchange and collaboration.

The tensions are due to two parallel trends. The first is China’s growing economic and technological importance, which challenges the existing world order, and particularly the position of the U.S. as the sole and self-evident superpower. The second concerns a number of technological areas that have become vital to the economic and military strength of countries and their autonomy.

These issues are attracting ever greater attention in politics, trade and industry. To date, however, there has been little research placing these developments in an historical and conceptual context.

The researchers in this project will be studying the development of international scientific collaboration in light of the changes in the international rule-based world order, converging – or diverging – global research ethics and norms, as well as the increasingly urgent common societal challenges that require international coordination and cooperation in research, development and regulation.

In addition to publishing scientific articles, the researchers intend to develop courses and training modules for students, researchers and people working in the public and private sector.