We’re all in this together

Is a golden age of scientific collaboration coming to an end? It certainly seems that way as all around the world doors are closing to partnerships between scientists. It’s not the scientists themselves that are responsible for this narrowing of scientific horizons, however, but nation states and supranational groups.

These opportunities for cross-border collaborations are closing for many reasons. High up on the list are economic nationalism, populism and geopolitical competition, along with fears over espionage and the urge to maintain a lead in certain scientific fields by shutting out ‘unfriendly’ competing nations.