Preserving cooperation in an age of fragmentation: The role of science and knowledge
José Manuel Durão Barroso
Former Prime Minister of Portugal and President of the European Commission
Visiting Professor at the Catholic University of Portugal and the European University Institute
Published on July 24th, 2026
International cooperation has become more difficult precisely at a time when it is needed most.
Strategic competition among major powers has intensified, trust between countries has declined, and many of the institutions that have supported international cooperation for decades are operating under increasing pressure. Yet the defining challenges of our time continue to transcend national borders. Climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, food security, and the governance of emerging and disruptive technologies cannot be addressed by countries acting alone. They are all global challenges requiring global science and collective action.
Adapting international cooperation to new realities
The multilateral order established after the Second World War was built on the conviction that cooperation among nations was both possible and necessary. That conviction remains valid today. Institutions such as the United Nations , although severely affected by political blockages , continue to provide an indispensable framework for dialogue, international law, and some form of transnational legitimacy . We should preserve both these institutions and the principles on which they were founded.
At the same time, we must recognize that today's geopolitical realities have made universal consensus and operational decisions more difficult to achieve. Strategic competition increasingly shapes international decision-making in areas ranging from trade and technology to climate policy and global health. Waiting for universal agreement before taking action is likely to leave many urgent challenges unresolved.
Partnerships that bring together governments, international organizations, scientific institutions, philanthropy, civil society, and the private sector have already demonstrated their capacity to respond effectively to shared challenges. Such initiatives should not be viewed as alternatives to multilateralism. They are practical expressions of it, allowing cooperation to continue where broader political consensus may be difficult to achieve.
Global health provides a compelling example. The experience of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has shown how diverse partners can work together to expand access to vaccines and strengthen health systems around the world. It demonstrates that cooperation around global public goods - like science - remains possible when institutions are built on shared objectives, mutual confidence, and a clear sense of common purpose.
Scientific cooperation as a bridge
Throughout history, science has maintained channels of dialogue even during periods of political tension. Researchers have continued to work together across borders because they share a commitment to evidence, knowledge, and the advancement of the common good. This tradition represents one of the greatest strengths of the international scientific community and deserves to be preserved.
Scientific cooperation now operates in a more complex geopolitical environment than in previous decades. Many emerging technologies have both civilian and strategic applications. Governments therefore have legitimate concerns regarding technological sovereignty, economic resilience, and national security. These realities cannot simply be ignored.
Recognizing them, however, should not lead us to conclude that openness is no longer possible. On the contrary, it makes responsible international scientific cooperation even more important. At a time when political dialogue is often constrained, collaboration among scientists continues to build confidence, sustain communication, and generate knowledge that benefits all societies.
Science diplomacy has an important role to play in this context. It cannot eliminate geopolitical competition, nor should it be expected to do so. It can, however, preserve dialogue where political relationships have become more difficult and create opportunities for cooperation in areas where shared interests continue to exist.
Openness with responsibility
The free circulation of ideas has always been one of science's greatest strengths. Open collaboration has accelerated discovery, fostered innovation, and enabled researchers around the world to contribute to knowledge that benefits humanity as a whole.
The international context has nevertheless evolved. In areas involving sensitive technologies or dual-use research, governments will inevitably introduce safeguards where security concerns exist. This evolution should not mean a radical rejection of openness, but rather an effort to reconcile scientific collaboration with changing strategic realities.
The objective should therefore not be to choose between unrestricted openness and excessive protectionism. Neither offers a sustainable path forward.
Instead, we should seek to preserve openness wherever it can responsibly be maintained. Properly governed Open Science strengthens research ecosystems, attracts talent, accelerates innovation, and enhances long-term competitiveness. Openness and resilience should not be regarded as competing objectives. Properly balanced, they reinforce one another.
Knowledge as Europe's Fifth Freedom
Europe's integration has been built upon the free movement of goods, services, people, and capital. These four freedoms have contributed not only to economic prosperity but also to reconciliation and lasting peace across a continent once divided by conflict.
Today, Europe has an opportunity to build upon that legacy by strengthening what has become known as the Fifth Freedom: the circulation of research, innovation, education, and knowledge.
Knowledge is increasingly one of our most valuable strategic resources. Facilitating its responsible circulation across Europe will strengthen scientific excellence, improve competitiveness, and better prepare our societies for the technological and economic transformations ahead. Investing in knowledge should therefore be understood not simply as an economic priority, but as a strategic investment in Europe's future.
Looking ahead
Recent crises have demonstrated the importance of anticipating challenges before they become emergencies. Scientific expertise should contribute not only to solving problems, but also to identifying emerging risks and informing better public policy before difficult decisions become unavoidable.
This is where closer dialogue between scientists and policymakers becomes particularly valuable. Strengthening these connections can improve our collective capacity to anticipate technological change, prepare for future crises, and respond more effectively to shared global challenges.
Peace has never depended solely on the absence of conflict. It also rests upon freedom, democracy, tolerance, respect for human dignity, and the willingness to cooperate despite differences. Those principles remain as relevant today as ever.
The international environment will continue to evolve, and so too will the institutions through which we pursue cooperation. This should not be seen as the end of multilateralism, but as its necessary adaptation to changing realities. Preserving scientific cooperation, strengthening trust across borders, and ensuring that knowledge continues to inform international decision-making will be essential to that effort.
In a more fragmented world, renewing international cooperation will require pragmatism, flexibility, and confidence in our capacity to work together where common interests prevail. Science diplomacy can make an important contribution to that objective by helping preserve the dialogue, trust, and cooperation upon which an effective international order ultimately depends.
Copyright: © 2026 [author(s)]. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in Frontiers Policy Labs is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
This blog was prepared for Policy Labs based on a conversation between José Manuel Durão Barroso and Claudia Alarcón López.
