- Elsevier highlights growing impact of geopolitical tensions on research
- Governments face tension between security priorities and open science goals
- AI tools may help researchers adapt to a more fragmented ecosystem
Elsevier has warned that growing geopolitical tensions and “science decoupling” policies are increasingly colliding with governments’ reliance on mission-driven research programs aimed at solving large-scale societal challenges such as climate change, cancer and economic resilience.
In the second edition of its Funding Forward newsletter, posted on LinkedIn on May 5, the scientific publishing and analytics company said research funders are facing a paradox: governments are pushing scientists toward broader multinational, multidisciplinary collaboration while simultaneously restricting researcher mobility and international partnerships due to national security concerns.
How Is ‘Science Decoupling’ Affecting Research Collaboration?
Elsevier said countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, are implementing or considering tighter immigration and collaboration controls, while universities in Europe and North America have limited some international partnerships.
The newsletter added that Chinese universities have reportedly shifted portions of their research collaborations away from the U.S.
According to Elsevier, these developments are reshaping the global research ecosystem at a time when governments increasingly expect scientific investments to generate measurable public outcomes.
The company cited its recent Confidence in Research survey, which found that 67 percent of researchers have observed a shift toward more mission-oriented research priorities.
Such research programs typically involve large, cross-border scientific networks focused on strategic objectives such as achieving net zero goals, developing advanced technologies or addressing public health crises.
What Strategies Are Governments Using?
Elsevier pointed to “friend-shoring” as one emerging approach, with governments deepening research ties primarily with politically aligned countries.
China has increased collaboration with partners in Asia, the Middle East and selected European countries, while the U.S. has focused more heavily on cooperation with NATO and G7 allies.
The newsletter also highlighted a trend toward “controlled openness,” in which governments permit collaboration through managed environments that restrict access to sensitive infrastructure, datasets or technologies.
Elsevier said the U.S. Genesis Mission initiative, which seeks to build an integrated artificial intelligence platform for federal scientific datasets, reflects efforts to strengthen domestic research capabilities.
Can AI Help Offset Research Constraints?
The company said AU tools may help researchers and funders navigate a more fragmented collaboration environment by improving interdisciplinary discovery and portfolio management.
Elsevier highlighted its LeapSpace platform as a tool designed to help users identify connections across research disciplines, evaluate high-impact areas and track long-term outcomes for mission-driven initiatives.
Still, the newsletter acknowledged that the broader challenge of balancing openness, security and scientific competitiveness ultimately extends beyond technology and into geopolitics.
