Internationalization of research and technology

Internationalization and globalization are two relatively new words in the vocabulary of scholars and scientific analysts in research and development. While the actual meaning and acceptance of these terms have developed slowly in science and technology policy, the activities they describe have stimulated scientific advance and technological transformation for centuries, but particularly in recent decades with the increasing speed of change. Especially since the 1950s, the relaxation of strict national boundaries in favor of a more integrated global economic system has changed the nature of the world economy. Increasing internationalization of production and trade has generated new demands on domestic R&D, while facilitating diffusion of ideas and technologies. The weakening of geographical and political protection of markets has forced more and more industries and firms to measure their competitive success not only on local, regional, and national scales, but also on the international scale