Network for Research on Knowledge Relations
The conditions and expectations surrounding international knowledge production (KP) – here referring to research, corporate research and development (R&D), and higher education – are changing. Long remained a field characterized by overtly liberal, open, and inclusive practices, international KP cooperation is now facing stronger scrutiny with regards to protecting national security and academic freedom. Developments concerning China, especially, but also Russia, and other authoritarian states building strong KP capabilities, have alerted authorities in many liberal, democratic states. This has already led to stricter export controls and new guidelines for KP cooperation. Many countries draw a distinct line between cooperation related to states that are part of their political security alliances – and not.
Amidst the rapid spread of new regulations and guidelines, we lack systematic knowledge about how researchers and their institutions deal with ethical and security-related challenges. Moreover, we lack knowledge about the effects, including possible negative consequences, of the regulations and guidelines that are emerging. Relatedly, major power rivalry and conflict between countries may trigger new forms of science competition, possibly disrupting established networks, practices, and standards for measuring excellence. The Nordic region, which includes countries with varying relations to the EU and NATO, and has considerable intra-region collaboration, is ideal for comparing and learning.
KNOWREL will provide overviews of the changes happening around international KP relations, inspire and facilitate basic and policy-relevant research, and organize activities for interaction with relevant authorities, business representatives and other societal stakeholders.
KNOWREL is structured around a series of workshops (in different Nordic countries), bringing together established and early-career academics to discuss and plan joint research and publication. The project period is 2023–2024 and the activities are funded by NordForsk (NOS-HS Exploratory workshop call).
KNOWREL’s key researchers (partners) include:
Hans Jørgen Gåsemyr (Sr. Researcher and Project Manager) and Kristin Fjæstad (Sr. Researcher), Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) (responsible and coordinating institution)
Stine Haakonsson (Assoc. Prof.) and Maj Grasten (Asst. Prof.), Copenhagen Business School
Tommy Shih (Assoc. Prof), Lund University and The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT)
Sirke Mäkinen (Lecturer), University of Helsinki
Gunnar Sivertsen (Research Prof.), Nordic Inst for Studies of Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU)
Project Manager
Participants
New publications
Nordic countries and knowledge collaboration with authoritarian non-allied states: conditional openness with stronger demands for protection
The conditions surrounding international knowledge production and collaboration are changing. What has long remained a field characterized by overtly liberal and open practices is now subject to more scrutiny with regards to protecting national security and academic freedom. Developments concerning China especially, but also Russia, and other authoritarian states with knowledge-related ambitions have alerted authorities in many liberal, democratic states. This is the case in the Nordic region, too. In this focus edition, we study why and how stricter conditions for international knowledge collaboration are emerging in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. We are especially interested in problematizing and explaining what happens when stronger security concerns and calls for protection meet liberal norms, including academic freedom.
Norway’s handling of knowledge relations with states outside its security cooperation
Norwegian authorities have for several years actively promoted internationalization of the knowledge sector. This includes collaboration with authoritarian countries such as China and Russia, which are not part of Norway’s security cooperation. However, in the last few years, we have seen a clear turn towards questions of national security and the status of liberal norms garnering more attention, also with consideration to knowledge relations. We observe this in sharper warnings from the security services, revised legislation and regulations and new guidelines for knowledge collaboration with countries such as China and Russia. In this article we study these changes and discuss their possible implications. Empirically, we build on survey and interview data, and we examine policy documents and media reports on relevant incidents. In terms of theory, we draw on explanations grounded in the geopolitics and securitization literature. We argue that measures that are introduced to protect national security and liberal norms may also limit the operational space for independent research and thus change the parameters for academic freedom, especially in relation to activities with connection to actors from non-allied states. To avoid unnecessarily restrictive conditions, researchers and their institutions should actively demonstrate and communicate how they work to ensure responsibility in their knowledge relations. This is especially important in situations where ethical and security-related challenges are obvious.