Understanding Exploration and Exploitation as a framework for building international research networks.
International Research Network (IRN) development requires a balanced approach. Going too broad (always exploring new countries) spreads resources thin. Going too narrow (deepening only existing relations) limits growth. The Exploration / Exploitation model helps decide which action to take for each country-field combination.
Every country in the system is classified per research field based on BINUS University's joint publication history. The status tells us what kind of opportunity that country represents right now.
0 total publications with this country (all fields)
Exploration means the country has no joint publications with BINUS University whatsoever, across all fields. This is virgin territory for collaboration.
Initiate the first research contact. Any joint publication with a new country unlocks all future collaboration possibilities. Focus on finding the right entry point.
Key metric: The IRN system tracks countries where total publications = 0. Once any joint publication is recorded, the country moves to Exploitation status.
Has total publications, but 0 in this specific field
Exploitation means BINUS University already has joint publications with this country (in other fields), but not yet in the field currently being reviewed. There is an existing relationship to leverage.
Deepen the existing relationship by extending it into new research fields. Use existing trust and established contact channels to propose cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Key metric: The system tracks field publications = 0 but total publications > 0. Exploitation is easier to convert than Exploration since trust already exists.
Already has publications in this field
Not Recommended means the country already has joint publications in the specific field selected. From an IRN expansion standpoint, this relationship is established - forming a new partnership here does not add to the breadth of our network.
This does not mean collaboration should stop - it simply means the country should not be a priority target when trying to expand our international research network.
Priority: Redirect outreach efforts to Exploration or Exploitation countries to maximize network breadth. Existing publications already count toward our IRN metrics.
| Status | Total Pubs | Field Pubs | Priority | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration | 0 | 0 | 🔥 High | First contact - any field |
| Exploitation | > 0 | 0 | ✅ Medium | Extend to this field via existing contact |
| Not Recommended | > 0 | > 0 | ⏭️ Low | Focus elsewhere for IRN expansion |
First Contact (New Country)
Use when: target country has 0 total joint publications with BINUS
Subject: Research Collaboration Inquiry - BINUS University, Indonesia Dear Prof. [Name], My name is [Your Name], and I am a [your position] at BINUS University, Indonesia (QS Ranked 851-900 globally). I came across your work on [specific paper or research topic] and found it highly relevant to our ongoing research in [your field]. We are actively expanding our international research network, and we believe a collaboration with [Institution Name] could produce impactful joint publications in [research topic]. Specifically, I am interested in exploring a co-authored publication on [proposed topic]. BINUS University has an established research community in [field] and we have existing collaborations with institutions in [example countries]. We are keen to initiate our first joint work with a leading institution in [target country]. Would you be open to a brief online meeting (30 minutes) to explore possibilities? I am happy to accommodate your time zone. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards, [Your Name] [Title] | BINUS University [Email] | [Phone] https://research.binus.ac.id
Extending to a New Field
Use when: existing collaboration exists but not yet in this specific field
Subject: New Collaboration Opportunity - Extending Our Research Partnership Dear Prof. [Name], I hope this message finds you well. I am [Your Name] from BINUS University. Our institutions have a productive ongoing collaboration in [existing field], and I wanted to reach out about a potential extension of our partnership. Our research team has recently been working on [new research area], and we believe there is a strong opportunity for joint work with your group given your expertise in [their relevant work]. I see this as a natural extension of our existing relationship. We are particularly interested in co-authoring a paper or submitting a joint grant proposal on [specific topic]. Given our existing MoU/MoA, this could be a very straightforward process to formalize. Would you or a colleague in your department be interested in discussing this? I would love to set up a short call at your convenience. Looking forward to continuing our collaboration. Warm regards, [Your Name] [Title] | BINUS University [Email] | [Phone] https://research.binus.ac.id
No Reply after 2 Weeks
Use when: no response after initial outreach
Subject: Following Up - Research Collaboration with BINUS University Dear Prof. [Name], I hope all is well. I wanted to follow up on my email from [date] regarding a potential research collaboration between BINUS University and [Institution Name] in the area of [field]. I completely understand how busy academic schedules can be. If now is not the right time, I am happy to reconnect at a more suitable point in the future. Alternatively, if you could direct me to a colleague in your department who handles international collaboration inquiries, I would greatly appreciate the introduction. Thank you again for your time. Best regards, [Your Name] [Title] | BINUS University [Email]