Research Partnerships Face Geopolitical Hurdles
Influenced by geopolitical tensions and rising sentiments against diversity and inclusion initiatives, the landscape of international research is undergoing a significant shift.
Changes are particularly evident in scientific collaborations between the U.S. and China, where political friction and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a notable decline in joint research efforts. This trend is worrisome, experts in the scientific community say, because it significantly hampers researchers’ ability to tackle global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and food security collaboratively.
A recent analysis by Springer Nature — a Germany-based academic publishing company — highlights this decline in research collaborations. The study, using data from research analytics tool InCites, revealed that in 2022, the total number of papers co-authored by Chinese and international researchers fell for the first time since 2013.
This drop is largely due to a significant reduction in joint publications with U.S. researchers, a trend that has been exacerbated by political actions, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s China Initiative, enacted under the Trump administration. Although the initiative ended in 2022, experts note that it left a lingering climate of fear and caution among researchers, particularly those of Chinese descent, further stifling a renewal in collaboration.
Moreover, a survey of over 700 universities worldwide found that geopolitical tensions have led to a dramatic cut in global research links, particularly in Europe and North America. Over half of the universities in these regions reported restricting partnerships due to new government rules or on their own initiative. Concerns about knowledge security, especially regarding China, have driven these changes, with universities taking proactive measures to safeguard sensitive information.
Despite these challenges, some international research efforts are persevering, driven heavily by students and faculty from South Asia. According to research by HolonIQ — a global market intelligence platform — foreign enrollment in the U.S. could nearly double from approximately 1.3 million students to an estimated 2.8 million by 2034, with India playing a crucial role. Researchers note that this growth underscores the importance of maintaining open international research pairings and fostering a diverse academic environment.
Recognizing the importance of international teamwork in advancing scientific discovery, the Association of American Universities (AAU) recently established the Task Force on Expanding United States-India University Partnerships, which aims to identify key areas for bilateral cooperation. By leveraging existing programs such as dual faculty appointments and student exchanges, the AAU hopes to expand future efforts. This includes the creation of the IndoU.S. Global Challenges Institute — a virtual network of Indian and U.S. universities that promotes joint research.
“[The institute] will facilitate high-impact research collaborations in areas like semiconductor technology and manufacturing, sustainable agriculture and food security, sustainable energy and the environment, health equity and pandemic preparedness, and critical emerging technologies,” AAU President Barbara Snyder, JD, said when announcing the task force in late 2023.
Although India will play a large role in the growth of the United States’ international scientific partnerships, the AAU and other institutions are also working to build out research cooperation with a number of other nations. For example, the goal of the University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research & Development in Semiconductors (UPWARDS) for the Future project, led by the University of Washington (UW), is to innovate semiconductor and chip technology and develop a skilled U.S.-based workforce within the industry through international collaboration.
Announced at the G7 meeting in Japan in May 2023, UPWARDS for the Future brings together researchers and faculty from the U.S. and Japan, with significant investments from industry giants Micron Technology and Tokyo Electron Limited, alongside the National Science Foundation and various universities. Over $60 million is being funneled into this five-year project, underscoring its critical importance.
UPWARDS for the Future prioritizes expanding the STEM talent pipeline to include underrepresented groups in the semiconductor industry. The first cohort of UPWARDS professors, all women, will participate in high-impact research projects and industry-led mentoring programs. These efforts are part of UW’s broader mission to close the STEM gender gap and create pathways for historically underrepresented groups, including rural and tribal communities.
“We are proud to be part of this innovation partnership and to lead the NSF grant for UPWARDS,” UW College of Engineering Dean Nancy Albritton, PhD, said in a news release. “As Washington state’s leading educator of engineers and as a leader in chip engineering and workforce development for the global innovation economy, it is an honor to work collaboratively with academic and industry partners to drive advancements in this crucial scientific field.
While these efforts exemplify the potential for intercontinental teamwork, the broader context of geopolitical tensions and antidiversity sentiments remains a significant obstacle. Experts assert that restrictive policies and a persistent climate of fear resulting from geopolitical rivalries could drive talent away from certain countries and fields, leading to a “brain drain” and a loss of valuable talent. This could result in countries prioritizing domestic interests over international cooperation, making scientific research more nationalistic.
As initiatives like AAU partnerships and UPWARDS for the Future strive to innovate and diversify research, successes within this space are important to highlight, promote, and support as they counteract xenophobic and nationalist ideas. Balancing national security concerns with the need for global collaboration will be crucial for the U.S. to continue progress in advancing technologies and global scientific research.●
