The MOU will facilitate researcher-led collaboration and enhance bilateral cooperation between researchers in Germany and the UK.
Initial opportunities are being developed through UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI):
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, in the area of the Integrative Microbiome and more information will become available in the coming weeks
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Medical Research Council
History of successful collaboration
This five-year agreement is the first UKRI-wide MoU with the German Research Foundation (DFG) and builds on the long history of successful collaboration between individual UK research councils and DFG.
For example, the Arts and Humanities Research Council has an ongoing MoU with DFG. This partnership has resulted in an annual funding opportunity that brings together arts and humanities researchers in the UK and Germany to conduct outstanding joint Discovery Research projects, a total of 76 projects to date.
UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser yesterday signed the MoU with Professor Katja Becker, President of DFG at a meeting in London.
Excellent news for researchers
Dame Ottoline said:
I am delighted that we are able to build on the UK’s long-standing research relationship with DFG to forge this new pan-UKRI MoU. It will enable more collaboration across the full range of disciplines and is excellent news for researchers across Germany and the UK.
Professor Katja Becker, President of DFG said:
The agreement between DFG and UKRI demonstrates our joint commitment and Enthusiasm for expanding bilateral relations between the UK and Germany in science at the highest level.
We hope that in this way we will create a research environment for sustainable, top-notch cooperation between our two organisations and enable researchers from both countries to establish new bilateral contacts and work together in a spirit of trust.
Top image: UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser and Professor Katja Becker, President of DFG. Credit: Joel Knight