International Scientific Cooperation Research Articles

International scientific cooperation in public health: A performance measurement framework based on the “Syphilis No!” Project in Brazil

In this article, we aim to propose indicators to evaluate the performance of international scientific cooperation in public health, based on the operation experience in Brazil’s “Syphilis No!” Project. This is an action research project, based upon Kaplan and Norton’s Balanced Scorecard Method, developed in five stages: (i) Reorganization of the indicators, (ii) validation of the new indicators, (iii) construction of the dimensions of the indicators, (iv) data collection for the indicators, (v) development of the framework for the “Syphilis No!” Project. The metrics and 34 indicators are presented and grouped into four dimensions: technical-scientific, investment, products, and impact. The cooperation that emerged from the project has built an international research network that has the potential to transcend syphilis research. The framework demonstrated that international scientific cooperations, focused on research and product development, have contributed to the promotion of public health policies and have enabled the exchange of knowledge, techniques, experiences, and technologies, fundamental to the international scientific cooperation of Brazilian universities. This contribution will have implications for studies in the field of international relations in health and education.

Potential for Scientific Collaboration between Russian Think Tanks and the Global South

Introduction. This article analyses expert survey data conducted among Russian think tank employees and is aimed to assess the current level of scientific cooperation between Russia and new partners amidst Russia's geopolitical shift, analyses the potential for such cooperation, and answers what problematic agenda can unify and provide a cumulative effect to international scientific cooperation. The article also gives the main challenges that think tanks face when establishing scientific cooperation with colleagues from the Global South. The article addresses whether think tanks cooperate with EAEU countries and the Global South, in which areas the cooperation takes place and with which countries, whether the intensity of international communications has changed in the last 2 years, and what social and political agenda is prioritised in the scientific community's work. Methods. Both general theoretical and empirical methods were used to solve the research tasks: systematisation and generalisation; an expert survey, which results allowed for the assessment of the current level of scientific cooperation and the identification of priority areas for scientific diplomacy. Results and Discussion. Based on an expert survey among leading Russian think tanks, the current level of scientific communication was determined, countries were ranked by the intensity of scientific contacts, main forms of scientific cooperation were identified, and the problematic agenda of the Russian scientific community was analysed. Conclusion. Russia has significant potential for scientific cooperation with Global South countries, based on existing experience and similar problem agendas faced by the scientific communities of Russia and the Global South.

Science Diplomacy from Pierre-Bruno Ruffini’s Point of View: the Concept and its Essence

The paper deals with the way that Pierre-Bruno Ruffini uses to conceptualize the science diplomacy in his books and articles since 2015. Pierre-Bruno Ruffini is a practitioner who has been directly involved in the implementing his country's foreign policy for a long time; at the same time, he is a prominent researcher that contributes to theoretical framing and mainstreamification of science diplomacy, its basic notions and key questions. P.-B. Ruffini’s articles of the last ten years make evident the evolution in this area even if the relate vocabulary emerged only recently. The paper shows the way P.-B. Ruffini completes the mainstream approach to science diplomacy (including the well-known typology “diplomacy for science”, “science for diplomacy”, and “science in diplomacy”) and considers such factors as national interests and the rationale of competition. The paper emphasizes the distinction that P.-B. Ruffini makes between science diplomacy and international scientific cooperation. At the same time the paper discusses the possibilities and eventual limits to the use of all these instruments in such traditional areas as the history of international relations, history of diplomacy, history of science. The specificity of every historical period makes relevant the danger of introducing modern meanings into the practices of the past. However, the due respect and the right estimation of these risks can turn the idea of science diplomacy such as P.-B. Ruffini conceptualizes it into the starting point for an interdisciplinary dialog and the integration point for various studies in history (from the traditional reconstitution of the bilateral relations and the case studies of some emblematic projects to the research based on documents of a personal nature and the witness’ memoirs).

Research on Sino-Ukrainian Scientific and Technological Cooperation

As national strategies continue to advance international scientific cooperation, the collaboration between China and Ukraine has been steadily maturing. To clarify the present status of Sino-Ukrainian collaboration and offer insights for its future development, this paper focuses on co-authored publications between China and Ukraine documented on Web of Science from 1993 to 2022. Employing methodologies such as bibliometrics, social network analysis, and visualization techniques, this study comprehensively explores various perspectives including publication trends, collaborative interdisciplinary fields, participating institutions. Through this multi-faceted approach, the current state of scientific cooperation between the two countries is summarized, culminating in proposed strategies and recommendations for the future development of Sino-Ukrainian scientific and technological collaboration.

International scientific cooperation: the case of the Economic and Social Development (ESD) conference

The article analyses scientific conferences as an instrument of international cooperation. The aim is to identify the characteristics and factors influencing the growth of the international scientific conferences. Specifically, it presents the concept and model of the Economic and Social Development (ESD) conference and examines scientific cooperation within this conference between 2012 and 2022. The article draws on data sourced from the ESD conference organiser and the Web of Science database. Between 2012 and 2022, a total of 92 conferences were held across six continents in 26 countries. The WoS database indexed 1,465 articles authored by individuals from 91 countries. The lengthy waiting times for conferences to be indexed in the WoS database have led organisers to seek out additional benefits for participants.

Китай и механизмы международно-правового регулирования космической деятельности

China actively supports the development of international law mechanisms and the field of peaceful exploration of outer space is no exception. Joining the UN documents on space and other international organizations in the 1980s allowed Beijing to gain access to international scientific and technical cooperation. However, many Chi-nese, Russian as well as foreign experts note the imperfections of international space law, citing the lack of basic definitions and inadequate measures to control the activities of states in space. Having become a party to space law legal mechanisms much later than their entry into force, China did not participate in their delibera-tions and is now taking the initiative to establish better control mechanisms in this area.

Research infrastructure as a tool for scientific integration: some aspects of the EU experience for Ukraine

Research infrastructure as a tool for scientific integration: some aspects of the EU experience for Ukraine

International cooperation in science, technology, and health, challenges and perspectives

International cooperation in science, technology, and health, challenges and perspectives

Arctic Science and Technology Advice with Ministries

This seventh Synthesis with the Science Diplomacy Action serial emerged from the panel session on Arctic Science and Technology Advice with Ministries, which was convened during the Arctic Circle Japan Forum in Tokyo on 5 March 2023. This session built on transdisciplinary dialogues with the February-March 2022 webinar series on Enhancing International Scientific Cooperation: Arctic Science and Technology Advice with Ministries, which was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan with coordination and logistics provided by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), as represented in Synthesis 6. Dialogues in both venues were strongly influence by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war with consequences for international Arctic scientific cooperation, as reflected by the 3 March 2022 “pausing” of the Arctic Council. With this background, the Arctic Circle Japan Forum session addressed three questions: 1. How can nations maintain as well as enhance international Arctic scientific cooperation, especially in the context of Open Science? 2. How can individual scientists work with ministries to build Open Science inclusively during times of geopolitical strain? 3. How can ministries facilitate continuity with the Arctic Council inclusively beyond the Arctic Council chairship rotation from Russia to Norway in May 2023? The panel involved leaders from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), National Institute for Polar Research (NIPR), Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Science Diplomacy Center™ and the University of the Arctic (UArctic). Panelists’ international perspectives from Finland, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States are represented in the transcript of their panel dialogue, which is reproduced herein to provide insights about continuity with international scientific cooperation and Open Science inclusively to achieve progress with Pan-Arctic sustainable development.

THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES IN MODERNISATION PROCESSES AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF ATTEMPTATIONS OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE (60s-70s of the XIX Century)

The article highlights the role of universities as centres of intercultural communication in the broader context of analysing the reformist experience of the Russian Empire in the 60s and 70s of the nineteenth century on the basis of the study of memoirs, periodicals of the nineteenth century, as well as documents of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Kyiv, which were first introduced into scientific circulation. The conclusions emphasise that despite the implementation of peasant, judicial and military reforms, and the introduction of elected local government, the Russian empire did not undergo a radical modernisation of socio-political life, and the authoritarian principles of state governance remained unchanged. Attempts to implement liberal reforms remained half-hearted and incomplete, and the idea of establishing a constitutional monarchy proved unviable in the realities of an autocratic police state. At the same time, during the nineteenth century, in the Russian empire, the role of universities as factors of modernisation and a wide range of socio-cultural processes related to the development and implementation of scientific ideas, scientific and theoretical support for economic development, the formation of staff potential and the cultivation of social consciousness focused on political emancipation was established. The development of a university corporate culture based on the principles of autonomy was in sharp contrast to the foundations of the russian imperial autocracy. Despite the fact that imperial universities were founded to implement the autocratic (in particular, Russification) policy, they became the source and catalyst of modernisation processes, ensuring the rise of the educational and cultural level of society by training personnel for the most important spheres of social life – science, pedagogy, public administration, various sectors of the economy, legal activities, medicine, literature, journalism, etc. Universities were powerful instruments of westernisation processes, centres for the development of international scientific and educational cooperation, and conductors of scientific knowledge, technological innovations, and ultimately the legal principles and socio-cultural values of European civilisation. Representatives of the teaching corporation and university graduates were actively engaged in educational activities, popularising scientific knowledge among the general public, giving public speeches and open lectures, participating in the development of book publishing, periodicals and public scientific organisations, thus influencing public consciousness and developing the scientific and theoretical basis for modernisation reforms. The university environment provided fertile ground for the rise of opposition to the autocracy, national and cultural movements, and the cultivation of socio-political thought consonant with the European ideological trends of the time.

Marketing of BRICS innovation clusters in the context of geopolitical instability

The modern stage of society development is characterized by an increased attention to the issues of formation and development of national innovation systems (NIS), which would ensure the integration of various elements of the innovation process, thereby contributing to the build-up of the country's competitive advantages in the global market. Independent development of countries in modern economic conditions is not possible due to the complexity and turbulence of the external economic circuit. In the new geopolitical realities, the fact that past globalization paradigms are no longer having an impact on the viability of the NIS of many countries is becoming evident. At the same time, due to the changing geopolitical landscape, the role of international associations, such as BRICS, is being significantly transformed and they are becoming new centers of influence, including in matters of scientific and technological cooperation. One of the priority conditions for the effective functioning of international S&T cooperation networks and the NIS of each individual country is the creation and maintenance of innovation infrastructure. Already functioning innovation clusters with technology parks, business incubators, accelerators, etc. can become such an infrastructure. Cluster structures are the most effective form of development of international scientific and technological cooperation, which allows to fully realize the potential of countries and structures involved in the interaction, as well as to obtain a significant synergistic and multiplicative effect. The issues of marketing support of innovative cluster associations, which contribute to the successful promotion of clusters in the professional community and target markets, are of particular relevance in this issue.

Political and Legal Nature of Sanctions Restrictions in The Field of Publication Activity of Russian Scientists

This article is devoted to the study of theoretical and legal ideas about scientific sanctions and their political and legal nature, as well as an analysis of their impact on the publication activity of Russian scientists in foreign publications.
 In modern conditions of geopolitical and geo-economic turbulence, sanctions policy has a restraining effect on the development of scientific and technological potential. In this connection, the purpose of the study is to conceptually generalize the legal nature of scientific sanctions, identify existing barriers to international scientific and technical cooperation and find ways to overcome them.
 Sanctions policy is represented by various forms of generating difficulties in the sphere of participation of certain states in international network collaborations and established forms of cooperation. The legal basis of sanctions policy is the unilateral termination of contractual relations, which causes damage not only to the state against which sanctions are imposed, but also to the state that imposes sanctions.
 As a way to respond to sanctions challenges in the field of scientific and technological development, the dynamic development and implementation of innovative measures to support the national scientific and scientific-technical sector is proposed.
 As measures to increase the publication activity of Russian scientists in foreign publications, it is seen, first of all, the need to form and implement a special state policy as an integral part of the state scientific and technical policy in the field of international cooperation, since its development in these conditions cannot be limited only to the initiatives of scientific subjects and scientific and technical activities. In particular, it seems possible to change the geographical directions of international scientific and technical cooperation. This also involves encouraging friendly countries to harmonize foreign and domestic policies in the field of science, technology and innovation, as well as to harmonize national legislation and improve the functioning of organizational and legal mechanisms of cooperation.

A comparative study of international and Chinese digitization from the perspective of mapping knowledge domains

As a powerful tool to promote sustainable development, digitization profoundly impacts economic and social development. Systematically reviewing and performing econometric analyses of the literature in the digitization field can provide reference for the next stage of research. Based on the theory of bibliometric citation analysis and the knowledge domain mapping method, this study takes Web of Science United States (WOS) and Chinese Social Science Citation Index (CSSCI) as data sources and uses CiteSpace analysis tools to carry out data mining and visual comparative analysis on Chinese and international research hotspots, knowledge structure, and scientific research co-operation in the digitization field. The results show that (1) Chinese research hotspots and frontiers focus on digitization practice, while international research hotspots and frontiers focus on digitization theory, (2) that there is an ageing fault in the classic Chinese digitization literature, and the classic international digitization literature constantly changes with research hotspots, (3) and that the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom are at the centre of the international digitization scientific research cooperation network. There is close cooperation among international institutions and authors. There are few contacts between Chinese institutions. Chinese authors have less cooperation with authors from other countries in the world.

US and Canadian Sanctions Against the Russian Federation in the Field of International Scientific Cooperation: Political and Legal Analysis

The article provides a political and legal analysis of the US and Canadian sanctions against the Russian Federation in the field of international scientific cooperation. The classification of sanctions in the field of S&T cooperation is given. It is noted that by their nature, such sanctions threaten not only the national security and the level of technological development of Russia, but also significantly limit the universal tasks of solving global problems. Obviously, in the concept of open science and global interdependence, any scientific sanctions have a boomerang effect, since they limit not only Russia, but also other states, scientists, academic and educational organizations in cooperation to solve common problems. The authors draw the following conclusions: these sanctions do not have sufficient legal grounds; the consequences of their application are not normatively defined, so the gap in this part can be resolved on the basis of both the general principles of international law and by fixing in international agreements the consequences of a unilateral refusal to fulfill obligations (compensation for losses caused, distribution of risks and financial obligations); sanctions of this kind should not apply to individual scientists, since the channels of scientific communication act as an element of soft power and contribute to the removal of political differences (scientific diplomacy); the desire of the Russian authorities under the sanctions to diversify scientific and technical ties with other states of Asia, Africa, and Latin America is completely justified.

South-South Cooperation for development : an introduction

The text discusses the importance of international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation (STI), highlighting changes in bilateral partnerships between Brazil and China, especially in the space sector, and the promotion of health cooperation in South America. Additionally, it examines transnational networks involving Brazilian scientists and researchers and regional inequalities in scientific collaboration. It also explores the evolution of technical cooperation in sectors such as metrology and food security, emphasizing the potential for future cooperation initiatives and the need for a strategic approach to sectoral agendas such as health and STI.

Immune persistence of an inactivated poliovirus vaccine derived from the Sabin strain: a 10-year follow-up of a phase 3 study

In a previous phase 3 clinical trial, we showed that an inactivated poliovirus vaccine derived from the Sabin strain (sIPV) can induce neutralising antibodies against currently circulating and reference wild poliovirus strains. However, the immune persistence of sIPV remains to be evaluated. In this study, 400 participants who were eligible for an early phase 3 clinical trial (Jan 1, 2012-Aug 31, 2014) in Pingle County, GuanXi Province, China, were initially involved in one site. Of the participants in the previous phase 3 clinical trial, sera of 287, 262, 237, and 207 participants were sampled at the ages of 4, 6, 8, and 10 years, respectively, after the prime-boost regimen. Neutralising antibodies against attenuated Sabin strains were detected using these serum samples to determine immune persistence. The serum neutralising antibodies titre of 1:8 against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 is considered to be a seroprotection level for polio. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01510366. The protective rates against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 in the sIPV group were all 100% at 10 years after the booster immunisation, compared with 98.1%, 100%, and 97.1%, respectively, in the wIPV control group after 10 years. After the booster at 18 months, the geometric mean titres (GMTs) of neutralising antibodies against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 in the sIPV group were 13,265.6, 7856.7, and 6432.2, respectively, and the GMTs in the control group (inoculated with inactivated poliovirus vaccine derived from wild strain (wIPV)) were 3915.6, 2842.6, and 4982.7, respectively. With increasing time after booster immunisation, the GMTs of neutralising antibodies against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 gradually decreased in both the sIPV and wIPV groups. At the age of ten years, the GMTs of neutralising antibodies against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 in the sIPV group were 452.3, 392.8, and 347.5, respectively, and the GMTs in the wIPV group 108.5, 154.8, and 229.3, respectively, which were still at a higher-than-protective level (1:8). Both sIPV and wIPV maintained sufficiently high immune persistence against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 for at least 10 years after booster immunisation. Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the National High-tech Research and Development Program, the National International Science and Technology Cooperation Project, the Yunnan Application Basic Research Project, the Innovation Team Project of Xie He, the Yunnan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project, and the Medical and Technology Innovation Project of Xie He.

Russian Universities as Actors of Arctic Science Diplomacy

Abstract. This article examines the role of Russian universities in emerging and further developing Arctic science diplomacy (ASD). According to authors, in the current geopolitical conditions Russian universities are significant ASD actors which perform a number of important functions for the organization of international scientific cooperation with foreign countries and making a positive image of Russia in the world. The paper uses a systemic approach to identify Russian universities’ contribution to the ASD development through various mechanisms: joint research projects and publications with foreign partners, the organization of international events on the Arctic issues and participation in prestigious international conferences on the Arctic research area, joint polar expeditions (land and maritime), and participation of Russian scientists in international Arctic scientific organizations, etc. The university ASD is exemplified by the Russian leading universities – St. Petersburg State University, Moscow State University, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, etc. The study demonstrated that maintaining a dialogue on an ongoing basis within the framework of research and educational activities of universities can contribute to the systematic establishment of cooperation in other areas of international relations, the search for innovative solutions for the benefit of the development of the entire Arctic region.

Priorities and limitations of development of international scientific cooperation of circumpolar countries in the field of sustainable development of the Arctic

Aim. To identify priorities and limitations of the development of international scientific cooperation of circumpolar countries in the field of sustainable development of the Arctic.Tasks. To characterize circumpolar countries with identification of their natural, climatic and socio-economic features; to assess the impact of climate change on the sustainable development of circumpolar countries; to identify priorities for the development of international scientific cooperation in the field of sustainable development of the Arctic in the context of climate change; to identify the features of Arctic policy of circumpolar countries in modern conditions.Methods. The methodology of the presented study was developed based on its goal and the set scientific objectives. Arctic climate change is assessed by comparing a set of indicators for the period from 1971 to the present. The key priorities of the state Arctic policies of circumpolar countries are identified on the basis of the analysis of their political and program documents. The priorities for the development of international cooperation in the field of sustainable development of the Arctic are identified on the basis of the author’s works and correlated with the opinion of authoritative Arctic researchers.Results. The conducted research has shown that the rapid climate change in the Arctic has become the main challenge of natural origin to the sustainable development of circumpolar countries. The following priorities of scientific research within the framework of international cooperation of circumpolar countries in the field of sustainable development of the Arctic have been identified: first, comprehensive study of natural, anthropogenic, socio-economic processes in the Arctic; second, thorough documentation of the identified features; third, creation of a unified international database reflecting the ecological, economic, and social state of the Arctic territories; fourth, comprehensive modeling and assessment of the impact of climate change on the sustainable development of the Arctic; third, creation of a single international database reflecting the ecological, economic, and social state of the Arctic territories; third, creation of a single international database reflecting the ecological, economic, and social state of the Arctic territories; fourth, comprehensive modeling and assessment of the impact of climate change in the Arctic.Conclusions. The climate challenge of sustainable development of the Arctic territories can only be met through individual and joint efforts of all circumpolar countries. Initially, the national strategies of the circumpolar countries were based on a common aspiration: to work through close cooperation, including scientific cooperation, with international partners to achieve the common goal of creating a peaceful, economically successful and sustainable future for the Arctic. The exclusion of the Russian Federation (RF) from international scientific cooperation on issues of environmental management in the context of climate change repeatedly increases the risks of sustainable development of the Arctic territories.

Analytical support for identification trends and problems in the development of interaction between stakeholders of education, science and business

Ukraine’s entry into the path of innovative economic development requires modernisation of the interaction between stakeholders of education, science and business to create a network of cooperation, taking into account the needs of stakeholders due to the situation in Ukraine as of 2023, focusing on changes in the world economy. The purpose of the article was to build a structural and logical scheme of analytical support for identifying trends and problems in the development of interaction between stakeholders in education, science and business. The methodology was based on the use of logical, systemic and comparative analysis. The analysis of budgetary funding for priority areas of innovation activity and sales of innovative products (services) and new technologies by budgetary funds managers showed no trends and priorities for the development of technology transfer and other intellectual property rights carried out by universities, research institutions, enterprises and organisations. The generalisation of changes and prospects of legislative regulation of support for educational, innovative, scientific and technical activities of business focuses on post-war reconstruction, which involves increasing confidence in the educational, scientific and expert activities of institutions for their effective functioning and increasing the volume of research funding. The analysis of the integration aspects of the research and innovation system into the European Research Area and support from international scientific organisations and foreign governments proved the support received from many national scientific communities and international scientific organisations in the creation of the portal for international scientific and technical cooperation and the international consortium for infrastructure and research. The practical significance of the study lies in the proposed directions for improving interaction with business of educational and scientific institutions in the process of implementing innovations separately by stages of interaction with stakeholders (attraction, financing and implementation)

THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ON SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL MODELS IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

The article discusses current issues about the education and science system in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the impact of digital transformation on these models. During the period of transformation in the field of science, digital transformation allows scientists to conduct research using modern information technologies. They can create virtual models and experiments, analyze large amounts of data and use high-performance computing. This allows scientists to study complex processes and phenomena more effectively, make new discoveries and participate in international scientific cooperation. Traditional and modern approaches to education, active learning, project work, the use of information and communication technologies and distance learning are also considered. These sources may be useful for studying the impact of digital transformation on scientific and educational models in the Kyrgyz Republic.