With borders largely shut down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it can be easy to forget just how important cross-border cooperation is for global prosperity. A time reminder comes via new research from the University of Eastern Finland, which highlights how much potential currently lay untapped.
For instance, the border region of Cascadia that connects Seattle in the United States and Vancouver in Canada has seen precious little economic cooperation, despite policy makers on both sides of the border promoting it, and numerous initiatives existing to support cooperation.
Cross-border cooperation
The research used a combination of survey and statistical data to gauge the success of cross-border cooperation around the world. A particular focus was given to forms of innovation-related cooperation, such as in science and R&D. This was measured using metrics such as the number of co-patents and co-publications.
In the cross-border region of Cascadia, such cooperation is remarkably rare, with few scientific outputs emerging from collaboration between the US and Canada. It’s a finding that somewhat surprised the researchers.
“The economic profiles of Seattle and Vancouver are very similar, and increasingly close collaboration between the two is encouraged. This should foster cross-border cooperation, but it is still very seldom that partners are sought from across the border,” they say.
Sadly, such a scenario is not confined to the border regions of North America, with similar findings emerging from European border areas.
“Although cross-border cooperation in the European Union and in its adjacent areas is supported by, e.g., the Interreg and ENI programmes, the outcomes have remained modest in terms of cooperation in science, research and product development,” the researchers continue. “For instance, patents filed as a result of cross-border cooperation are rare.”
For instance, the Öresund region connects Sweden and Denmark, and is often cited as a perfect example of international cooperation, but even this region produces relatively few innovation-based results, bar a few notable exceptions, such as in medicine.
The authors believe their work highlights the often yawning chasm between the rhetoric of cross-border cooperation spouted by policy makers, and the reality in terms of clear and concrete outcomes.
“The current relations between the EU and Russia, and the coronavirus pandemic, put the sustainability of cross-border cooperation to test. How to maintain cooperation even at current levels is a cause of concern,” the researchers conclude.
