What was once a mostly collegial and curiosity-driven endeavor is now a domain increasingly shaped by strategic interests, political alignment, and national security concerns. That’s the sobering assessment of the growing influence of geopolitics on the global research ecosystem, as offered by Juergen Wastl, Digital Science’s VP Research Evaluation and Global Challenges, in his recent blog post, On Research: A Present, Past and Tense Future.
Wastl sets the stage with an important initiative: on May 5, 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the “Choose Europe” initiative, a €500 million package of super-grants aimed at attracting researchers affected by abrupt U.S. federal funding cuts. The message was clear: Europe offers stability. In one move, science policy crossed firmly into geopolitical territory.
This episode is not an isolated shift but part of a larger transformation. Wastl traces the arc back to 1945, when Vannevar Bush laid the foundation for a new social contract between science and state, one in which governments would fund independent, investigator-led research as a public good. For decades, this model delivered innovations from MRI to the internet. But as Wastl explains, today’s crises, from national security to climate change, have driven governments to reshape research into an instrument of statecraft.
Strategic missions and security filters
Across the world, research funding frameworks are being overhauled. Europe’s Horizon programme now clusters its €95 billion budget into five tightly defined “missions” aimed at tangible, short-term outcomes. China’s industrial strategy is injecting billions into semiconductors, biotech, and green hydrogen, building a pipeline of “little-giant” firms tied to national independence. Meanwhile, new agencies like the U.S. ARPA-H and the UK’s ARIA are making big bets on breakthrough science, with fewer checks and faster timelines.
These mission-driven approaches bring new energy, but they also introduce complexity. Grant applications are now scored on deliverables and impact logic models, not just scientific merit. Budgets expand and retract with election cycles. Export controls, visa delays, and funding scrutiny are slowing international collaborations. Universities find themselves balancing academic freedom against compliance mandates.
Wastl calls attention to the cultural fracture running through all of this: a generation raised on borderless knowledge now faces new constraints. Researchers must consider visa risks, publication barriers, and export-control rules before even formulating a research question. Institutions must navigate a fragmented, high-stakes landscape—often with limited tools.
Meeting the moment: Dimensions Research Security
At the heart of Wastl’s reflections is a challenge: how can institutions protect long-term, curiosity-driven research while adapting to the demands of a more politicized, security-conscious era?
This is where Dimensions Research Security provides a powerful and timely response.
For academic institutions, Dimensions offers a comprehensive view of research activity across borders and disciplines. Leaders can explore international partnerships, track co-authorship networks, follow funding patterns, and understand historical collaboration footprints. This level of visibility enables universities to identify potential risks early, support faculty engagement with evidence, and stay ahead of shifting policy requirements, all without needing technical expertise or multiple disconnected systems.
Government funders and national security stakeholders benefit from a broader strategic lens. Dimensions helps them monitor research in high-priority areas, benchmark global activity, and detect patterns that may signal dual-use risks or emerging vulnerabilities. With access to the world’s largest interconnected research database, they can make well-informed decisions that protect national interests without stifling innovation or openness.
Rather than offering fragmented dashboards or one-off metrics, Dimensions integrates intelligence across the entire research lifecycle. It empowers institutions to:
- Build stronger, more aligned collaborations by identifying who is doing what, where, and with whom.
- Protect research continuity by proactively managing geopolitical and funding risks.
- Turn complex insights into clear action, supporting strategic decisions and compliance from the lab bench to the boardroom.
In an era defined by diplomacy and disruption, Dimensions doesn’t just help institutions react, it positions them to lead with clarity and confidence.
Toward a principled path forward
By offering validated, continually updated data, Dimensions becomes a single source institutions can trust. It supports not just compliance, but collaboration. Not just reaction, but strategic planning.
As science is increasingly asked to serve national strategies, institutions will need to adapt. But with the right tools, they don’t have to compromise. With Dimensions, they can protect the integrity of research while participating in its evolving role on the global stage.
Contact the Dimensions team for a demo.
You can also get more information from the Dimensions Research Security product page.
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