International Collaboration Key to Science and Engineering Globalization

Per NSF report, one in six scientists and engineers in the U.S. collaborate with individuals in other countries

International collaboration is a key aspect of the globalization of science and engineering. A recent report and data evaluation released by the National Science Foundation (NSF) showed that one in six scientists and engineers in the United States reported working with individuals in other countries in a given week. International collaboration was more likely to occur among persons working in the for-profit sector, men, and those with higher levels of educational attainment. Individuals who earned postsecondary degrees both in the United States and abroad reported the highest levels of international collaboration.

The InfoBrief released by NSF examines the profile of U.S. scientists and engineers who work with colleagues in other countries, the means of communication they used, and the relationship between work activities in their principal job and the extent to which they collaborated internationally. Data are from 2006, the only year data on international collaboration were collected.

For more information on this report, please contact Jaquelina Falkenheim.

Please visit the NSF's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) for more reports and other products.

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