This document discusses challenges and opportunities for enhancing collaboration between US and EU researchers. It finds that Europe remains a top collaborator for US science, though China is rising. Personal networks and mobility are important factors. While many bilateral science agreements exist between the US and EU countries, differences in funding policies and lack of support present challenges. Increased understanding and awareness could help researchers better navigate opportunities for collaboration.

1. Enhancing U.S. Collaboration with
the EU and its Member States
- Challenges
December 12, 2011
Tom C. Wang, Ph.D.
Director for International Cooperation

2. Country share of U.S.’s intl articles:
Continued strength of European collaborators
16
14
% Country Share
12
10
8
6
4 1998
2 2008
0
#6,#7 Italy
Finland
#1,#2 Germany
#5 France
Belgium
Greece
Poland
Austria
UK
Spain
Denmark
Norway
Sweden
Netherlands
Switzerland
#2,#1
(China jumped to 10.4% (#4) in 2008
from 3.5% in 1998)
2 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011 Source: Table 5-19, National Science Board S&E Indicators 2010

3. U.S. share of country’s intl articles:
Continued strength of U.S. collaborators
40
35
% U.S. Share
30
25
20
15
10 1998
5 2008
0
Germany
Italy
France
Poland
Greece
Austria
UK
Denmark
Spain
Norway
Finland
Sweden
Belgium
Netherlands
Switzerland
3 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011 Source: Table 5-19, National Science Board S&E Indicators 2010

4. Link2US
 3-year project, co-funded by the European
Commission’s 7th Framework Programme, to help
European researchers and institutions better
understand the U.S. research funding
environment, particularly funding programs.
 Analysis of S&T Agreements and U.S. Funding
Programs
 Outreach to researchers in the EU
4 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011

5. Diffuse and diverse funding systems
5 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011 Source: (map) Google Map

6. Many bilateral S&T Agreements, but
what do they mean to researchers?
 U.S. Government with European Commission and
14+ EU Member States
6 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011

7. Link2US Survey of NIH grantee
investigators and institutions in the EU
 Importance of mobility and personal networks
 Majority researchers had either previously studied
or conducted research in the U.S. before first NIH
award
 Majority researchers had collaborated with U.S.
institutions before first NIH award
7 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011

8. European doctoral students continue to
study in the U.S.
8 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011 Source: National Science Board S&E Indicators 2010

9. Increase in foreign post-docs in the U.S.
30
Number of Post-Docs
Foreign
25
(thousands)
20
U.S. Citizen/
Permanent Resident
15
10
1993 1996 1999 2002 2005
Year
Source: Adapted from Fig 2-24
9 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011 National Science Board S&E Indicators 2010

10. Relatively low percentage of U.S. citizens &
permanent residents going abroad following
science & engineering doctorates
5.0%
Definite Plans Abroad (%)
4.0%
3.0%
2.0%
1.0%
0.0%
10 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011 Year Source: NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates

11. NIH Research Project Grants are researcher-
friendly, but policy differences between NIH
and European granting agencies make grant
administration challenging
11 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011

12. Researchers Grants Administrators
“High”
“Medium”
“Low”
Challenges
Lack of admin. Lack of Differences in Lack of admin.
support from own complementary U.S./European support from U.S.
organization funding policy funder
requirements
Communication Cultural Contractual
and information differences issues and IP
awareness
12 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011

13. Are the experiences of intra-European
cooperation applicable to EU-U.S.
cooperation?
13 Tom Wang, December 12, 2011