How do academics reconcile simultaneously collaborating and competing with colleagues?
How do you handle in every day life, at conferences, in hallway conversations this paradox of collaborating and competing at the same time in academia?


I ignore it, except around known jerks.  I'm lucky enough to work in a research community that generally values collaboration over back-stabbing.  There are a few exceptions, of course, but they fall under the category of "known jerks".  I'd much rather gain a coauthor and get the result out together than to keep secrets and risk being scooped.

Yes, I have developed coauthors this way.  Yes, I have published papers this way that might not have been published otherwise.  Yes, I have been scooped, but only by people I had not discussed my ideas with.

Your mileage may vary.


  How do you determine what to share?


I don't share ideas or problems that students (either mine or not) are actively working on, without the students' explicit permission.  Otherwise, I'm open about everything, except around known jerks.  In particular, if you want my latest grant proposal, just ask.


  Do you avoid colleagues who are known to 'tell only the minimum' at congresses and then surprise later with an accepted grant?


No.  Why should I?