International cooperation in science must always be regarded in the context of the respective political, economic, linguistic and cultural conditions in and between the partner countries. It is shaped and challenged by these aspects, both in positive and negative ways. International collaborations involve benefits and risks: To what extent can collaborations and negotiations be conducted with partners that do not share the system of values and the scientific system of Leibniz University Hannover? Both contextual factors and involved parties that limit existing leeway or allow for more leeway must be identified.