From space exploration to 5G commercialization: How cooperation bolstered sci-tech advances in 2019

ANTI-GLOBALIZATION HEADWINDS

A report this year by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) concluded that innovative activity has grown increasingly collaborative and transnational.

"Today's innovation landscape is highly globally interlinked," said WIPO Director General Francis Gurry. "Increasingly complex technological solutions for shared global challenges need ever larger and more-specialized teams of researchers, which rely on international collaboration."

"It is imperative that economies remain open in the pursuit of innovation," Gurry added.

However, in the area of science and technology, rising unilateralism and protectionism also struck a blow to cooperation among nations and openness in research.

"I miss an important space agency in this panel. Where is China?" read the most popular crowd-sourced question displayed in large type on a screen above the assembled attendees at a plenary of this year's International Astronautical Congress in Washington.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that the Chinese delegation was unable to attend the opening ceremony after failing to obtain US visas.

A total of 60 US scientific organizations in September expressed increasing concerns in an open letter that the country's "overly broad approach" to minimizing security risks will have an "unintended effect of harming the scientific enterprise."

Scientific progress and US economic development have been vastly accelerated by bringing international minds together, the letter said.

Moreover, 5G technology is another victim of political maneuvering. Analysts said that behind the move to smear and attack leading telecoms enterprises without providing solid evidence is an attempt to politicize technology, which will hold back the launch of 5G networks and development of tech sectors across the world.

Despite the headwinds, 2019 marks the first year of global 5G commercial application. According to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, more than 20 countries had launched commercial 5G services as of October.

Among them, Britain and Spain have used equipment by Chinese enterprises. With support from Chinese technology, Monaco became the first country completely covered by 5G in July.