A report by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has found that UK researchers are collaborating with their international colleagues roughly 50% more than they did a decade ago. The UK trails Germany in terms of research links to the US, the global leader in research; however, the UK is the US’ top partner in clinical, biological and environmental sciences. The UK is the European leader for collaboration with China, and is third overall, after the US and Japan. But the UK’s recent weakness in publishing papers in the physical sciences and engineering could damage this position, because China has been investing the most in these areas. The report calls for a reassessment of the administrative and funding structures that support international collaboration.

Source: The Guardian