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International science as national project: lessons from South Korea for the future of international research collaboration

Heyjin, Kim LU and Mobrand, Erik Johan LU (2025) In Studies in Higher Education
Abstract
Debate over the future of international science takes place in light of two trends that are frequently interpreted as standing in tension with each other. The longer-term pattern shows that science is increasingly an international endeavour, as collaboration across borders has grown. A more recent apparent re-nationalisation of science, however, raises questions over the march of international science. Geopolitical challenges and technological shifts have made researchers and research institutions think more carefully about international collaboration, which is now portrayed as a potential liability. Against this background, this essay examines the way that national context shapes international science collaboration through the study of a... (More)
Debate over the future of international science takes place in light of two trends that are frequently interpreted as standing in tension with each other. The longer-term pattern shows that science is increasingly an international endeavour, as collaboration across borders has grown. A more recent apparent re-nationalisation of science, however, raises questions over the march of international science. Geopolitical challenges and technological shifts have made researchers and research institutions think more carefully about international collaboration, which is now portrayed as a potential liability. Against this background, this essay examines the way that national context shapes international science collaboration through the study of a single country. International science has in South Korea long been tied to national projects. Even as the country assimilated into international research networks and became a liberal democracy, the value of international science remained attached to national objectives. The integration seen in South Korea of national purpose and international collaboration demonstrates that current conversations about the future of international collaboration can proceed without exaggerating tension between the national and the international. Reflection on this example also contributes to scholarship on global science by illuminating a set of intersections between national science systems and global science. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
International science collaboration, research policy, research security, technological sovereignty, national higher education systems, Korea
in
Studies in Higher Education
publisher
Routledge
ISSN
0307-5079
DOI
10.1080/03075079.2025.2499951
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e18a90a0-d0f8-4807-8c5a-1c223ed30c5c
date added to LUP
2025-05-05 11:07:32
date last changed
2025-06-02 09:17:09
@article{e18a90a0-d0f8-4807-8c5a-1c223ed30c5c,
  abstract     = {{Debate over the future of international science takes place in light of two trends that are frequently interpreted as standing in tension with each other. The longer-term pattern shows that science is increasingly an international endeavour, as collaboration across borders has grown. A more recent apparent re-nationalisation of science, however, raises questions over the march of international science. Geopolitical challenges and technological shifts have made researchers and research institutions think more carefully about international collaboration, which is now portrayed as a potential liability. Against this background, this essay examines the way that national context shapes international science collaboration through the study of a single country. International science has in South Korea long been tied to national projects. Even as the country assimilated into international research networks and became a liberal democracy, the value of international science remained attached to national objectives. The integration seen in South Korea of national purpose and international collaboration demonstrates that current conversations about the future of international collaboration can proceed without exaggerating tension between the national and the international. Reflection on this example also contributes to scholarship on global science by illuminating a set of intersections between national science systems and global science.}},
  author       = {{Heyjin, Kim and Mobrand, Erik Johan}},
  issn         = {{0307-5079}},
  keywords     = {{International science collaboration; research policy; research security; technological sovereignty; national higher education systems; Korea}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Studies in Higher Education}},
  title        = {{International science as national project: lessons from South Korea for the future of international research collaboration}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2025.2499951}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/03075079.2025.2499951}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}