I have worked in three research institutions in the US - At the University of Maryland, at Harvard University and at Mass General Hospital. While there were cul

I have worked in three research institutions in the US - At the University of Maryland, at Harvard University and at Mass General Hospital. While there were cultural differences as well as individual differences, my main observation was that people were eager to share and teach one another. This was my main attraction to academic life. Cross-disciplinary collaboration was also very encouraged. The level of secrecy, however, probably depends on field. I was in neurophysiology + cognitive science. Colleages in the molecular biology field complained of competition and secretiveness from colleagues. I suspect that this extends not just to the US but to Europe as well. I knew of a researcher from Denmark in a certain field who was known to 'sit' on a certain resource and control access to it to reduce competition and further their own name.