Studies show countries “at the forefront of research” prioritise international collaborations and mobility

Research shows that countries whose academics work frequently across borders with colleagues from another country – or from multiple countries – are those whose papers are cited the most often across fields of study. These papers are considered “high impact” in terms of advancing the development and knowledge base of specific fields.

This finding is especially notable in our present era when the global pecking order of research heavyweights is changing. The US has fallen to second place, after China, for research output. Not coincidentally, its international research collaborations have declined, while China’s have skyrocketed. EU leaders in scientific innovation such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany are increasingly partnering with China, and reducing their joint scientific projects with the US.

This has geo-political implications that could become more pronounced due to the Trump administration’s isolationism, threats to top US research universities’ operations, and cuts to scientific funding.

An early study made the connection

A study conducted in 2016 by Caroline Wagner, a professor at Ohio State University and distinguished fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Koen Jonkers, Head of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, found that countries “at the forefront of research” are also those with:

• The highest level of international co-authorship of papers;
• A commitment to the international mobility of their research workforce.

China leads in output and research collaborations

China now leads the world in research output, and the volume of its international co-authored papers is soaring. According to an October 2025 report from Elsevier, China’s research output exploded from 26,200 papers in 2000 to over 878,000 in 2024. Its internationally collaborative papers shot from 6,000 to more than 163,000 over the same period.

What’s more, this is happening while the US is declining both in output and international collaborations.
Elsevier notes:

“The United States has historically led global research, but recent trends suggest a strategic inflection point. US output is declining, and its share of global collaboration is shrinking. Co-authorship with most partners dropped sharply between 2021 and 2022, with collaboration with Mainland China falling even earlier — from 2019 onward.

Policy decisions have played a role. Restrictions on foreign collaboration and reduced funding for key areas like mRNA vaccine development risk isolating the U.S. from the global research ecosystem.”

In terms of research impact, as measured by academic citations, Elsevier found that collaborative papers consistently outperform domestic-only publications.

EU countries hold stable, and surpass China in impact

The Elsevier study found that European countries are holding their own as the innovation gap between the US and China expands, and that other regions are catching up:

• China now accounts for 28% of published articles, and the US has fallen to 17%. The EU has held steady at 22% of global output.
• The EU is the world leader in terms of international collaborations: 43% of EU papers involve international co-authorship.
• Publications from the total EU membership are cited more often than those from China but less than those from the US.
• Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Canada, and the UK score higher on research impact than the US and China.
• Other Asian countries as well as the Middle East and Africa are rising in the ranks in terms of impact.
• The number of co-authored papers including China and partners in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East are expanding rapidly.
• China’s collaborations with Germany, Australia, and the UK have surpassed pre-pandemic volumes but have fallen with Canada and especially the US.
• As well as the EU and Australia, China is prioritising research partnerships in the Middle East and Asia – including Iran, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, “suggesting a strategic pivot toward emerging regions.”

Implications

A nation or region’s influence and innovation clearly correlates with its approach to research. Collaborative research across borders has a higher impact on the advancement of science, health, and technology than domestic-only research.

As the US recedes from global engagement, China is expanding ... all over the world. Its massive economic, educational, and infrastructural Belt Road Initiative launched in 2013 has positioned the country as as a central trade power in Asia and Africa. China’s research and trade relationships with EU partners have been rapidly expanding. At the same time, US President Trump is reducing collaboration with Canada and Europe and is cutting funding to major domestic science and health research initiatives.

Toby Smith, senior vice president for government relations and public policy at the Association of American Universities told the New York Times that his organisation estimates that “if the administration succeeds in its plans to cut the 2026 federal science budget to US$154 billion from US$198 billion — a 25% reduction — it would represent the smallest amount that the federal government has spent on science in this century.”

Mr Smith says the result “would essentially end America’s longstanding role as the world leader in science and innovation."

The link between scientific innovation and an open, cross-borders approach to research also has implications in terms of broad patterns of international student mobility. Governments that support universities in attracting the best students in the world – and in retaining them after graduation – have the best chance of keeping their country competitive in the world order that is transforming before our very eyes.

For additional background, please visit:

• “Global trends in international enrolments and policies as we head into 2026”
• “US: Study estimates that changes to international student policies could reduce GDP by up to US$481 billion per year”