New guidelines are drawn up for safer knowledge exchanges and responsible internationalisation

International collaborations and exchanges are important for high quality in education, research and innovation and contribute to strengthening Sweden's competitiveness. In recent years, uncertainty in the world has increased, with, for example, several geopolitical challenges. This places new eligibility requirements on universities and authorities to protect national interests, knowledge and technology when working with international collaborations and contacts. Several European countries have already introduced national guidelines for responsible internationalisation, including Norway, the Netherlands and Germany.

The Swedish Council for Higher Education, the Swedish Research Council and Vinnova have been assigned to work with responsible internationalization in higher education, research and innovation. Part of the assignment involves producing indicative national guidelines to be used by Swedish higher education institutions, governmental research funding agencies and other authorities. Another part of the assignment is to propose how to develop and design support for knowledge and experience exchanges between organizations.

Favors Sweden as a research nation

- Sweden is a small country but a strong nation of innovation and knowledge. To remain competitive, we need international collaborations, especially to solve global societal challenges. In the current situation, however, security around international collaborations in innovation and research is one of the things that needs to be strengthened. National guidelines for how responsible internationalization can be implemented, and how knowledge exchanges can be carried out in a safe manner, are something that several other countries already have. As Sweden now will develop them too, this is something that can contribute to continued high international trust for Sweden as a partner, and thus benefit Swedish research and innovation, says Darja Isaksson, Vinnova's director general.

The three authorities must carry out the mission in close cooperation with universities, governmental research funding agencies and other actors and authorities that can contribute to a well-functioning and secure research and innovation system. The work must be coordinated with the cooperation between authorities that takes place within Plint - platform for internationalization.

The final report on the assignment is due on 15 December 2024.

The press release from the Ministry of Education and Research

Read the government assignment

More about Plint - platform for internationalisation