The UK and Germany have signed a new partnership to strengthen their science and research links. The agreement was announced by UK Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and German Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger.
The partnership will focus on joint opportunities in AI, quantum technology, clean tech, and more. Key science organizations from both countries, including the Max-Planck Society, the Royal Society, Universities UK, and the Helmholtz Association, will collaborate on R&D projects. The UK government plans to use funds from the £337 million International Science Partnerships Fund to support these collaborations.
Strengthening UK-Germany Science and Research Collaboration
The United Kingdom and Germany have recently signed a new partnership aimed at enhancing their science and research collaboration. This agreement is a significant step in deepening the relationship between the two countries, which are already prominent collaborators in global research. The partnership will focus on exploring joint opportunities in various fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, clean tech, and more.
Joint Declaration of Intent
The Joint Declaration of Intent, signed by UK Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and German Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger, commits both countries to expand and deepen their science and research ties. The agreement was announced at a meeting in London, which brought together representatives from leading science organizations in both countries, including the Max-Planck Society, the Royal Society, Universities UK, and the Helmholtz Association. The meeting aimed to identify promising opportunities for research and development collaboration in various fields.
Strategic Working Group and International Science Partnerships Fund
As part of the agreement, the UK and German governments will establish a Strategic Working Group to ensure that the high ambitions set out in the partnership are matched with concrete plans for delivery. The UK government is also considering using funds from the £337 million International Science Partnerships Fund to enable UK researchers and innovators to collaborate with German partners on key projects.
Global Innovation Fellowships and Future Symposia
The partnership also includes the award of the first two Global Innovation Fellowships, delivered by the British Academy and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). These fellowships will support collaborative work on the changing dynamics of global order. Additionally, the British Academy and Germany’s Alexander von Humboldt Foundation announced plans to host three symposia over the next three years, aimed at bringing together early career researchers from both countries to boost opportunities for joint work across the humanities and social sciences.
UK-Germany Collaboration in Horizon Europe
The new partnership builds on existing efforts to enhance UK researchers’ opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in Germany and beyond through Horizon Europe, the world’s largest program of research collaboration. The UK and German researchers have previously worked together on innovative projects through Horizon’s predecessor, such as EAVI2020, an international effort that brought HIV-AIDS vaccines to the clinical trial stage. The UK is also participating in the Copernicus component of the EU space program, providing numerous opportunities for the Earth observation sector, researchers, and the public.
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