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1
Introduction
The globalization of science, engineering, and medical research is pro-
ceeding rapidly. As the National Science Board (2010) points out, “S&E
(science and engineering) activities are occurring and intensifying in more
regions and economies, largely in response to recognition by governments
that S&E research and development (R&D) leads to economic growth,
employment, and overall social well-being of their citizens.” For example,
researchers working outside the United States, Europe, and Japan account
for a growing share of the peer reviewed literature. The share of scientific
publications and patents that is internationally co-authored has increased
from eight percent to 22 percent over the past several decades (NSB, 2010).
And international collaborative research projects such as the Large Hadron
Collider at CERN are critically important to the advance of knowledge.
The globalization of research has important implications for the U.S.
research enterprise, for the U.S. government agencies, academic institutions,
and companies that support and perform research, and for the world at large.
As science and technology capabilities grow around the world, U.S.-based
organizations are finding that international collaborations and partnerships
provide unique opportunities to enhance research and training. At the same
time, significant obstacles exist to smooth collaboration across national
borders. Enhancing international collaboration requires recognition of dif-
ferences in culture, legitimate national security needs, and critical needs in
education and training.
1
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2 CORE ELEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION
FIGURE 1-1 International coauthorship of S&E articles, by region/country: 1988–
2007.
EU = European Union
NOTES: Asia-8 includes India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South
Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. EU includes all 27 member states. Articles classified by
year that they entered the database and assigned to region/country on basis of authors’
institutional address(es). For internationally coauthored articles, each collaborating
country or sector credited one count.
SOURCES: Thomson Reuters, Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation
Index, http://thomsonreuters.com/products_services/science/; The Patent BoardTM;
and National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, special
tabulations. This figure originally appeared in National Science Board. 2010. Science and
Engineering Indicators 2010. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation.
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INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT FOR THE ACTIVITY
In response to these trends, the Government-University-Industry Re-
search Roundtable (GUIRR) launched a Working Group on International
Research Collaborations (I-Group) in 2008, following its meeting on New
Partnerships on a Global Platform that June. Sponsored by the National
Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the In-
stitute of Medicine, GUIRR serves as a forum for dialogue among the top
leaders of government and non-government research organizations. GUIRR
and two organizational affiliates, the Federal Demonstration Partnership
(FDP) and the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP),
facilitate research collaborations in the U.S. context. Past GUIRR discus-
sions have also covered important aspects of the international environment
for research activities (see Thursby and Thursby, 2006, which was commis-
sioned by GUIRR).
l-Group was formed to examine international research collaborations in
a systematic, practical way. The goal is to work with stakeholders to develop
a more structured approach to collaborations and help companies and uni-
versities deal with various cultural, administrative, and legal complexities in
undertaking them. According to its Statement of Purpose, I-Group “engages
in dialogue and discussion to facilitate international collaborations among
academic, government, and industrial partners by: (1) identifying poli-
cies and operations that enhance our ability to collaborate; (2) identifying
barriers to collaboration—policies and operations that could be improved;
(3) developing a web-based resource or other compendium of successful
strategies and methodologies; and (4) suggesting how barriers might be
addressed.”
As part of I-Group’s continuing effort, a workshop on Examining Core
Elements of International Research Collaboration was held July 26-27, 2010
in Washington, DC. The National Research Council formed a Planning
Committee to organize the activity. The charge to the Planning Committee
was as follows:
An ad hoc committee will plan and conduct a two-day public workshop on
international research collaborations. The agenda of the workshop will be
developed with topics to enhance international understanding and diminish
barriers to research collaborations, providing an important forum for the
expected participants from scientific and engineering research communi-
ties in the U.S. and other countries. Issues to be addressed in the workshop
include the following: (1) Cultural Differences and Nuances; (2) Legal Issues
and Agreements; (3) Differences in Ethical Standards; (4) Research Integrity
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4 CORE ELEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION
and the Responsible Conduct of Research; (5) Intellectual Property; (6) Risk
Management; (7) Export Controls; and (8) Strategies for Developing Mean-
ingful International Collaborations. An individually-authored workshop
summary will be published. In addition, a password-protected website will
be created to permit workshop participants and others to post questions and
share information on specific tools for research collaboration that have been
useful to practitioners.
The Planning Committee was assisted by GUIRR staff and volunteers
from numerous GUIRR member organizations in organizing the meeting.
The workshop brought together subject matter experts from universi-
ties, government, and companies/corporations in the United States and
other nations to share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges
presented by international research collaborations, and examples of suc-
cessful approaches. The agenda included plenary sessions that provided
expert overviews of various issues, and breakout discussions to allow for a
deeper sharing of perspectives. Following the workshop, the rapporteurs
prepared this summary, which reports the main themes that emerged from
workshop presentations and discussions. The organization of the summary
follows that of the workshop by focusing on the “core elements” of interna-
tional research collaborations identified in the Planning Committee charge.
The goal for the workshop and the summary is to serve as an information
resource for participants and others interested in international research col-
laborations. It will also aid I-Group in setting its future goals and priorities.
Financial support for the activity was provided by the Air Force Office
of Scientific Research, the U.S. Army, the Office of Naval Research, and the
National Institutes of Health.
1.2 FRAMING THE ISSUES1
In his opening remarks at the workshop University of Maryland Pres-
ident Emeritus C. D. (Dan) Mote, Jr. noted that the overall environment
for international collaborative research is very positive, with significant free-
dom of action for institutions. However, the context is also characterized by
risks that may not be well understood by participants new to cross-border
partnerships. The formation and pursuit of international research collabora-
tions is largely a decentralized process. As the president of a major public
In this section and other sections summarizing presentations, views and opinions are
1
attributed to the presenter unless stated otherwise.
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INTRODUCTION
research university, Dr. Mote faced few constraints in concluding research
collaboration agreements with foreign governments, academic institutions,
and companies. He estimated that the University of Maryland at College
Park has over 50 agreements with entities in China alone.
Agreements are not only concluded at the University of Maryland’s
central administration level—schools, departments and even individual
faculty and student groups can conclude agreements with non-U.S.
counterparts to pursue collaborative research. Particularly in the case of
broad memoranda of understanding, special permissions are not generally
required.
The types of governmental organizations participating are also pro-
liferating. They can include multilateral organizations (such as the World
Bank) and governments at all levels (including municipalities and tribal
governments). Industry partners may be large, established multinational
enterprises or small start-ups.
Partnerships become more vulnerable to pitfalls at the point where col-
laborative research is made operational through the allocation or transfer
of funds, the specification of deliverables, and the development of concrete
research plans. One primary goal of the workshop, Dr. Mote said, is to
better understand the risks involved in international research collaboration
for organizations and individual participants, and the mechanisms that can
be used to manage those risks.
Kathie L. Olsen, Vice President for International Programs at
the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), now
Founder and Managing Director of ScienceWorks, LLC, was a keynote
speaker at the workshop. She pointed out that the advantages of interna-
tional research collaborations are being more widely recognized. At the
same time, globalization poses some challenges to the United States. These
challenges also represent opportunities to renew U.S. strengths.
For example, students may represent a competitive strength for the
United States. Many campuses have multiple international research efforts.
U.S. industry needs employees who are comfortable working in interna-
tional settings. How can research be integrated with year-abroad and other
educational programs to provide expanded opportunities for U.S. students?
What should academic research programs look like in five or ten years? Can
U.S. universities plan strategically so that students are prepared, research is
enhanced, and U.S. global competitiveness is strengthened?
Dr. Olsen explained that part of the context is that the number of
foreign students in the United States far exceeds the number of American
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6 CORE ELEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION
students abroad, although the latter has been growing consistently (IIE,
2010). Beyond the raw numbers, the characteristics of U.S. study abroad do
not reflect overall U.S. international engagement and the overall U.S. popu-
lation in significant ways. For example, Europe is the predominant study
abroad destination, accounting for about half of the opportunities in recent
years. In terms of subjects studied, social sciences, business management,
humanities, fine and applied arts, and foreign languages combined make up
about two-thirds of the total, with science, engineering, and related fields
making up less than 20 percent. Over eighty percent of the students are
white, and almost two-thirds are female.
Dr. Olsen encouraged GUIRR and its membership to stay engaged
with the issue of international research collaborations, and to lead strategic
thinking on how to maximize the benefit of these collaborations to the U.S.
research enterprise.
REFERENCES
IIE (Institute for International Education). 2010. Open Doors 2010. Washington, DC.
National Science Board. 2010. Globalization of Science and Engineering Research: A Companion
to Science and Engineering Indicators 2010. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation.
Available online at: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsb1003/.
Jerry Thursby and Marie Thursby. 2006. Here or There? A Survey of Factors in Multinational
R&D Location. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Available at: http://www.
nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11675.
