International Research Strategy discussion –updateMay 22, 2015

1.) Objective

2.) External conditions• Changing structures for R&D • Cluster formation and mapping• New partnership models & initiatives

3.) U of M—intl. research footprint & emerging partnerships

4.) Some ideas for potential intl. leveraging

What do we want to achieve?

An international research strategy that builds on what we have, that provides opportunities for important transdisciplinary research (“global challenges”) and is able to tap significant new outside resources.

Specific Outcomes:• Data base on intl. research activities that covers all of U of M

• Information that will allow strategic intl. investments that build on U of M unique strengths and require multiple partners (disciplinary, institutional; too complex to be accomplished by one school; partnerships to include govt., education/research, and private sector)

“The days of overwhelming U.S. science dominance are over, but the country can actually benefit by learning to tap and build on the expanding wellspring of knowledge being generated in many countries.” The Shifting Landscape of Science, C. S. Wagner, Issues Online in Science and Technology, NRC, 2011

Closing thoughts (from Efi Foufoula’s CRAD presentation)

Who is collaborating with who?

Strategic Partnering

• Lead on a handful of strategic grand challenges (e.g., sustainability, big data, collaboration technologies, research-infused education, etc.)

• Scientific infrastructure and facilities• Adopt best practices – emphasis on leveraging• Partnerships with emerging powerhouses• Strategic regional hubs (including developing

world)• Develop the human capital

Changing structures for R&D

U of M State of Research 2014

Sources: OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators Database, Eurostat and UNESCO Institute of Statistics, June 2014

Top world universities—who is moving up, who is moving down?Source: Times Higher Ed Rankings

Internationalization of Public Research

• Accelerating trend• Research financing from abroad becoming more important• Arrangements: country-level multilateral or bilateral

research agreements (co-financing, joint research projects, or researcher exchange programs)

• Rationale: historical ties or strategic importance of partner countries

• Outcomes often hard to assess• Specific partnerships between specific institutions or

research centers with clear research aims deliver better results

OECD data on R&D funding• 2014 report warns that with public finances still tight in many countries, the ability of governments to compensate

for lower business R&D with public funding, as they did during the worst of the economic downturn, has become more limited.

Other key findings include: • 2012 R&D spending surpassed USD 1.1 trillion in OECD countries and stood at USD 330 billion in the BRIICS (Brazil,

Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa).

Korea became the world’s most R&D intensive country in 2012, spending 4.36% of GDP on R&D, overtaking Israel (3.93%) and versus an OECD average of 2.40%.

• The BRIICS produced around 12% of the top-quality scientific publications in 2013, almost twice its share of a decade ago and compared to 28% in the United States.

• China and Korea are now the main destinations of scientific authors from the United States and experienced a net “brain gain” over 1996-2011.

• European countries are diverging in R&D as some move closer to their R&D/GDP targets (Denmark, Germany) and others (Portugal, Spain) fall further behind.

• In most countries, 10% to 20% of business R&D is funded with public money, using various investment instruments and government targets.

Source: OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook 2014 - © OECD 2014

Clusters• Clusters are a geographic concentration of firms, higher

education and research institutions, and other public and private entities that facilitate collaboration on complementary economic activities.

• “Clusters form naturally but collaboration with others in a cluster does not. For that to happen cluster organizations are crucial.” (Dr. Christian Ketels, Harvard Business School)

Minnesota/TC/St. Cloud region clustershttp://clustermapping.us/region/economic/minneapolis_st_paul_st_cloud_mn_wi

European Cluster Observatory: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/cluster/observatory/index_en.htm

New partnership models & initiatives

• Deeper industry-academia collaboration & new models constantly emerging (E.g. biotech industry)

• Strong interest in TC area and U of M research by foreign governments

• U of M delegations travel abroad to explore collaboration with foreign govt. and public sector

U of M assets & research funding trends

Large comprehensive research institution with strong support for collaboration (internally & externally)

capacity for global foot printdemonstrated ability to capture huge single grants (RESPOND and Emerging Pandemic Threats EPT2)Large alumni networks in China, Turkey, India (business, gov. & academic leaders)

• Large US funding opportunities require partnerships between universities & networks

• Capacity building opportunities• Intl. govt. R&D funding also requires multiple partners

Characteristics of the envisioned strategic international research partnerships:

– Mutually beneficial arrangements– Driven by self-interest: collaboration will provide most efficient access

to key complementary strengths– Long term commitment– Shared financial loads (greater return than investment)– Built-in milestones for all partners– Expertise that is required comes from a series of disciplines and sources – Broad range of potential partners: academic institutions, foundations,

existing academic/industry clusters, foreign government agencies, foreign research foundations, domestic and foreign industry, nonprofits abroad and at home.

– Faculty leaders with entrepreneurial bent

U of M—intl. research footprint & emerging partnerships

Data coversCollege of Science and EngineeringCollege of Veterinary MedicineCFANSCLACSOMHumphrey School of Public AffairsGPSA

Catalog of questions discussed• Intl. research highlights at your college? (topics; countries/regions;

institutions)

• Recent big grants? Structure of those grants? Do they suggest

emerging new model/s? • From your perspective, what is area of biggest strength today at your

college? • From your perspective, what area when put together with what other

partners where is best positioned for producing transformative research?

CSENorway

• Norwegian Centennial Chair (NOCC), est. 2006 by Norwegian govt.

• Norwegian U of Science and Technology NTNU (“MIT of Norway”)—Trondheim. Electrical & computer engineering

• University of Agder--Kristiansand

NOCC mission: promote cooperation in research and academic education between the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), University of Oslo (UiO) and University of Minnesota by strengthening and expanding existing, and by facilitating new transatlantic collaborations in cutting-edge research. Biochemical applications.

U of M partners: CBS, CSE, CFANS, Public Health, Vet Med and Med. School10 CSE faculty engaged in Norway collaborations

CSE cont.

• Smaller collaborations of CSE faculty in France (Civil Engineering) and Germany (Uwe Kortshagen)

• Occasional big-time investment from Abu Dhabi with Petroleum Institute; Chemical Engineering was approached to expand their research program

• Africa: educational program at Nile University in Egypt (Massoud Amin)

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CSE cont.CSE has largest number of Chinese grad students.

• 2008 visit of CSE to China to discuss partnerships w/ universities ($7 mio. seed money for collaboration)

Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing

Tsinghua University, Beijing

Shanghai University, Shanghai

Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an• Current conversation on establishing Medical Devices Center China

in Bejing (CSE, Vet Med, AHC, CSOM: MOU). Chinese partners building new Medical Devices Park. Multiple partners incl. Bejing U of Technology, Tsinghua U. Park to involve MN med devices companies and Life Science Alley.

• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST (recent Kaler visit; idea for joint research activity; proposed workshop on big data in fall 2015 in Hong Kong)

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China

CSE cont.

IndiaAcara Challenge impact entrepreneurship program of the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment in partnership with the College of Science and Engineering and the Carlson School of Management.

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• CSE real areas of excellence

chemical engineering

mechanical engineering

polymers

renewable energy strengths

intelligent systems and robotics

sensor technology

water issues, environmental issues (SAFL)

Center for Magnetic Resonance Research

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College of Veterinary Med

• 3 signature programs

Comparative medicine (animal-human interface)

Emerging zoonotic diseases

Population systems (global food system; eco-system; livestock health)

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International research footprint

Uganda—Makarere U plus 14 orgs (RESPOND grant and Emerging Pandemic Threats EPT2 grant)

(Vet Med, Public Health, Med School)

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ASIA

Thailand:

Chiang Mai University (global tropical medicine and public health). Potential for hub for infectious diseases. Relationships go back 27 years.

Connections to Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia

India:

Bangalore—focus on public health (Med School, SPH, Nursing) [One Medicine approach]

China: MDC China involvement [One Medicine approach]

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Europe

• Turkey (Ankara University)—Turkish govt. & US Embassy support

• Norway (Oslo)

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CFANS intl. footprint

• China and Brazil as great opportunities

(Brazil, China, USA = 50% of global food production)

direct contacts of CFANS to Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Ag University

Goal: connect food + public health

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International locations with significant transdisciplinary U of M research activity (existing or in planning stage)

Intl. research ideas and potential strategies

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Works new online faculty activity reporting tool that currently is in pilot phase with the College of Education and Human Development, the Carlson School of Management, CLA’s Psychology department, and the entire Duluth campus. Tool will be used primarily for annual faculty activity reporting. Ability to report on information that the university is currently unable to capture using any other mechanism, such as international activity, public engagement, and media appearances.

Information that can be collected around international activity within Works includes: countrycityinstitutional affiliationfield for description of work/collaboration

The above information can be collected in association with the following types of activities:

• Fellowships, residencies, and visiting engagements• Courses taught • Grants (proposals, projects and awards)• Presentations• Research or creative activity currently in progress• Service work