International Science and Engineering Partnerships

International Science and Engineering Partnerships: A Priority for U.S. Foreign Policy and Our Nation’s Innovation Enterprise

This report of the National Science Board was up for public comment in November. In its conclusions, it states:

S&E research and development can be improved dramatically from international science and engineering partnerships. Through cooperative exploration, scientists and engineers gain access to foreign data, platforms, facilities, sites, expertise, information, and technology that can be utilized to advance the cause of science and engineering towards new knowledge. International S&E partnerships can lead to improved tools, models, products, and services due to global use, testing, and feedback to address issues of global concern. Such collaborations also lead to policy changes that directly influence outcomes in S&E partnerships at all levels.

As science and engineering become increasingly both global and competitive, it is critical to establish an environment for future generations of scientists and engineers to be able to perform in a more globally aware manner and environment. These future professionals will need to be more cognizant of, and able to successfully address, the various international and cultural issues that may influence the development and implementation of science and engineering partnerships. Establishing international networks of S&E collaborators in all nations may prove to be one of the most important qualifications for future researchers.