Exploring transatlantic research collaborations

In an era defined by shifting political landscapes, tightening immigration policies, and evolving funding priorities, what do Scotland’s current research collaborations with North America look like? And what more can academia, industry, and government do to support researcher mobility and drive resilience?

A new report, commissioned by the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s North America Working Group, examines how researcher mobility in transatlantic research collaborations between Scotland, the United States, and Canada fosters resilience in the academic sector.

In particular, the report focuses on the career development of PhD students, early career researchers (ECRs), and early career faculty. In uncertain times, these collaborations are critical mechanisms of stability and adaptability. They provide access to diverse resources and generate cross-disciplinary innovations that contribute to both academic and career advancement and societal impact.

Drawing on survey data, literature, and case studies, the report provides a glimpse into the current state of Scotland-North America research collaborations involving early career researcher mobility. The findings and recommendations should serve as a insightful guide for stakeholders in academia, industry, and government.

Key Findings

• Mobility as resilience: Researcher exchanges foster deep relationships that help projects endure political and financial disruptions.
• High return on small grants: Even modest seed funding enables pilot projects, publications, and larger grant applications.
• Institutional scaffolding: Toolkits, risk registers, and structured seed-funding models reduce administrative burdens, provide stability, and share knowledge.
• Humanities and Social Sciences undervalued: Funding frameworks often privilege STEM fields, leaving the other disciplines underrepresented despite their vital contributions.
• Alignment gaps: Disconnects between institutional priorities and funding timelines limit capacity for long-term planning.

Recommendations for the Academic Sector and Higher Education Institutions

• Expand Mobility Pathways: Develop institutional fellowships, co-supervised PhD and early-career mentoring schemes, and hybrid training schools that provide equitable mobility opportunities across disciplines. Allocate internal funds for travel and accommodation to address gaps in external grants.
• Strengthen Administrative Support: Provide shared toolkits, due diligence frameworks, and legal guidance (e.g., data-sharing agreements) to streamline collaboration. Establish cross-institutional administrative roles to coordinate mobility and partnership logistics.
• Institutionalise Interdisciplinarity: Embed social sciences, humanities and creative arts in challenge-led initiatives alongside STEM, AI, and sustainability. Incentivise cross-disciplinary consortia through joint workshops and strategic planning.

Recommendations for Funders, Policymakers, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh

• Create Dedicated Transatlantic Funding Streams: Establish modest, flexible grants (£10k–£20k annually) for Scotland–North America collaborations, explicitly including mobility. Explore Erasmus-style mobility funding models tailored to staff and ECR exchanges.
• Improve Accessibility and Timeliness: Extend lead times for funding calls to enable consortium building. Harmonise application and reporting requirements across jurisdictions to reduce bureaucracy.
• Convene and Align Stakeholders: Use RSE’s convening power to host annual workshops uniting funders, policymakers, and academics to align priorities and share best practices. Support transparent, multi-level dialogue between universities and government representatives in Scotland, Canada, and the US.
• Champion Inclusivity and Equity: Ensure equitable access across geography, discipline, and career stage by embedding diversity and transparency in funding frameworks. Leverage diaspora networks in North America as bridges for sustaining collaboration.

Download the report

Download: Collaboration-Drives-Resilience (1.07MB)