Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISIStudy on the Governance of International Collaboration in Science and Technology (in the Field of Public Research)
Over the past decades, the conditions for global collaboration have changed significantly for both researchers and technology companies from Germany. Previously, the leakage of cutting-edge technological knowledge was a risk primarily attributed to collaborations with partners from leading nations such as the USA, Japan, or other European nations. In recent years, however, the field of relevant actors has broadened considerably now including many more dynamic nations like China, South Korea, or Taiwan, which seek to obtain the world's most current technologies even more actively and apply them to improve their own skills.
For German companies and research organisations, it is therefore crucial not to share new knowledge with competitors immediately after it has been created, or even during the research and development process. The core issue with this is less that new products can be imitated through re-engineering, instead, challenges arise when knowledge leaks before solutions can be developed and local benefit be drawn from their market introduction.
In dealing with China, a geopolitical dimension adds to this general challenge as all technologies that Chinese companies gain access to may be readily used for purposes that directly harm Germany's national security interests.
Public research institutions’, and, in particular, universities’ approach to international collaborations has traditionally been very individualised and open. This openness has allowed German researchers to incorporate knowledge from around the world into local research and development processes. And, in times when nuch cutting-edge knowledge is created outside of Germany, in formerly lagging nations, it remains indispensable. At the same time, it constitutes a challenge as – absent any central coordination and assessment mechanism – even basic rules of caution – and of safeguarding Germanys’ strategic interests have in some cases been disregarded.
Agains this background, this project developed an overview of those regulations that German public research organisations have established to manage their international collaborations, be they officially mandated or self-initiated.