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Declining International Research Partnerships Reflect China's New Strategy

By   Clara Slone Sep 27, 2024 234 6

China's participation in foreign research collaborations has been progressively decreasing, a trend that is indicative of a more general shift in the country's global academic strategy.

Chinese colleges produced a total of 741,160 publications in 2023, of which 147,951 (20%) entailed cross-border co-authorship, according to data from Clarivate's annual G20 scorecard. This was a decrease from a peak of 27.4% in 2018 and the lowest percentage in the previous ten years.

Co-authorship between Chinese scientists and their foreign counterparts clearly changed, going from 27.4% in 2018 to 20% in 2023. The rapid growth of China's domestic research sector is one of the main causes of this drop. In China, fields such as biotechnology, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence have advanced to such an extent that many researchers now choose to work together domestically, where institutional support is strong and resources are plentiful.

Another contributing factor is the geopolitical tension between China and Western nations, particularly the U.S. The rise in trade disputes, concerns over national security, and competition in critical technological areas like quantum computing and semiconductors have led to tighter restrictions on academic partnerships. Policies on both sides have limited access to sensitive technologies and intellectual property, further diminishing opportunities for international collaboration. The U.S.-China tech rivalry, particularly over the semiconductor "chip war," has exemplified the extent to which these tensions impact academic cooperation, as governments increasingly prioritize self-reliance over shared research.

Despite these challenges, some areas continue to benefit from cross-border collaboration. In fields such as climate research, health sciences, and space exploration, partnerships remain active and necessary. For instance, China's contribution to global health initiatives, including pandemic response efforts and drug development, remains significant. Similarly, China's heavy investment in green technologies and environmental research aligns with global goals to combat climate change, making international cooperation essential in these areas.

As China becomes more self-sufficient in research, this shift could have broader implications for global scientific progress. The academic world must now find ways to balance national interests with the need for international collaboration, especially in tackling complex global issues that require collective effort.

Keywords

China international research domestic research geopolitical tensions U.S.-China relations technology competition academic collaboration self-sufficiency global partnerships climate research health sciences

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