Principles & Policies
for International Scientific Collaboration
December 2023
Science, by its very nature, transcends national boundaries. International scientific collaboration has led to great
advances in our understanding of our world, our universe, and our shared global challenges. International scientificpartnerships enable breakthrough discoveries that help humanity tackle these global challenges. Likewise,international scientific cooperation fosters mutual understanding across political and ideological divisions.
Research provides the best impact when its results are communicated broadly, for the benefit of all. At the sametime, participating scientists must balance open scientific cooperation with national security interests. Researchers
must also respect intellectual property agreements, local laws and regulations, and be respectful of the rich cultural
diversity of the people who conduct research. Consequently, the undersigned national physics societies andinternational physics organizations call upon their members and upon scientists across the globe to abide by thefollowing principles that are crucial to successful international scientific cooperation:•Integrity: Scientists should adhere to the professional values, principles, and best practices that underpinour research communities and provide the basis for a fair, open, and trusted research environment.
Failure to adhere to these principles imperils the research enterprise and its many benefits.

•Transparency: An open science environment requires transparency among all partners. Scientists should
disclose all funding sources, individuals, and organizations involved in their collaborations, as well as
any requirements for the flow of information and documents within their collaborations, among theparticipants, and to their governments.

•Reciprocity: Scientists and institutions should exchange materials, knowledge, data, along with access tofacilities, research sites, and training, in a manner that benefits all collaborating partners.

Likewise, to realize fully the national benefits of international scientific partnerships, the undersigned call upon theirgovernments and those who promote policies and practices that advance international scientific collaboration, to:•••Enact travel and visa policies that enable scientific interactions between peers and partners;
Assess policies to ensure that they do not result in unnecessary or unintended barriers to multinational
research collaborations; andFoster opportunities for international research collaboration and exchanges for early-career scientists.

Lastly, the signatories urge all stakeholders—national governments, research institutions, and professional		
societies—to disseminate clear and well-communicated standards that define the responsible conduct ofscientific research. Moreover, the signatories encourage all scientists worldwide to not only uphold the principles
expressed above, but also to highlight their significance as cornerstones of professional conduct and ethical behavior.

American Institute of Physics
American Physical Society
Canadian Association of Physicists
Chinese Physical Society
European Physical Society
German Physical Society
Indian Physics Association
Institute of Physics for the UK and IrelandInternational Union of Pure and Applied Physics
Japan Society of Applied Physics
Netherlands’ Physical Society
Optica (formerly OSA)The Physical Society of Japan
Società Italiana di Fisica
Société Française de PhysiqueSouth African Institute of Physics