Forschungskooperationen bei kritischen Technologien: Europas strategischer Balanceakt

The ongoing debate on the EU’s economic security is creating a cautious attitude towards cooperation with third countries, including joint innovation. Yet, in particular for technologies considered critical, a regular cross-border exchange of knowledge and ideas is indispensable for innovation success. By drawing on comprehensive global patent data, this article investigates patterns of EU research cooperation for six critical technology fields: advanced materials, AI, biotechnologies, connectivity, energy and semiconductor technologies. In terms of the extent of patenting activity, the EU does not possess comparative technological advantages in any of the technology fields investigated. At the same time, EU patents resulting from research cooperations with third countries received a significantly higher number of citations than those with purely domestic inventors. To optimally exploit the benefits of international research collaboration, the EU should develop a dedicated technology cooperation strategy. It should involve a smart diversification of research partners with focus on Japan and South Korea, the integration of cooperation partners into internal research support schemes and the merging of bilateral partnerships to plurilateral technology clubs.