In recent years, a long trajectory of globalization based on a logic of openness has shifted towards geopolitical rivalry and attempts at derisking or even decoupling. Interdependencies persist, but increasing nationalism and antagonism between great powers is rolling back the openness that has characterized the past three decades. As we have seen, the world has moved into a new era of ‘multipolar globalization’ with an expanding array of diversity among globally norm setting nations and greater uncertainties. In this changing environment, higher education, research, innovation and technology constitute key battlegrounds for geopolitical competition. In contrast to the Cold War years, the contemporary geopolitical dynamic also plays out in a context of significant global interdependencies. Decades of governments and institutions promoting scientific and innovation collaboration has fostered extensive global networks. With the contemporary geopolitical turn, these global networks give rise to conflicts in governance as they simultaneously constitute important resources for researchers, and nation-states and introduce key vulnerabilities. At the same time global challenges, such as climate crisis and pandemics require the openness of science and innovation. Against this backdrop our research focuses on recent global developments, international collaboration, and if/how risks in the research and innovation spheres can be mitigated through responsible internationalization and research security. Our research includes:

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• Empirical, theoretical, and conceptual development of international collaboration in research and innovation, and research security and their contextual underpinnings.

• Up-to-date empirical findings and analysis, and trend analysis in matters related to geopolitics, international collaboration in higher education, science, innovation and technology. 

• Use of qualitative and quantitative methods. Development of mehodologies to assess research security and responsible internationalization measures.

• Development of a database, including organizational and national responses, effect/impact analysis of laws, policies, and practices, benchmarking metrics, and case studies. The database is continously updated.

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Our network comprises researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, based at universities in Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia.