The global research laboratory. Global-local conflicts of interest in research and education

The world is evolving from a set of economically and culturally distinct nations to a global human society. This evolution generates many new conflicts between local and global interests. Several issues related to the advancement of technology are affected by such conflicts. For example, international cooperative programs in various areas of science and engineering are frequently being advocated. They begin with much hope and desire of collaboration; but many cooperative programs fail simply because there are conflicts with local interests which are genuinely difficult to resolve and cannot simply be wished away for the sake of international harmony. Concrete solutions to local-global conflicts of interests in technological cooperation require careful analysis and investigation of a combination of three factors: economic, technological and social. The article concerns the role that the University of the future has to play in the resolution of such conflicts. Specific examples and proposals will be discussed, including an inherent conflict in the University itself. For example, there is already a conflict between, on one hand, an increase in quality and breadth caused by opening the admissions door further to international students; and, on the other hand, the increase in regional support by opening the door further to home grown students. Which approach will benefit the overall competitiveness of an industry is a new problem to be considered