A new UK-German agreement to boost tech, science, and research ties—and plans for a joint group of experts—are a part of shared measures being announced today (12 March 2024).

The UK science and technology secretary, Michelle Donelan, and German federal minister of education and research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, will announce the plans later today where they will sign a Joint Declaration of Intent committing both countries to broadening and deepening their tech, science, and research links.

Today’s meeting also brings together a forum featuring leaders and organisations from both countries to share and agree opportunities for R&D teamwork, ranging from quantum and AI to clean technology and research security. Moving forward, the UK and German governments are to establish a Strategic Working Group to match high ambitions with plans for delivery.

The UK-German relationship on tech, science, and research is already well-established. Germany is the UK’s second largest research collaborator globally after the United States, and is the UK’s biggest research partner in Europe. The two countries also play a significant role together in some of the world’s foremost international scientific organisations, including CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, and the European Space Agency.

The Declaration builds on underway efforts to boost UK researchers’ opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in Germany and beyond through Horizon Europe, the world’s largest programme of research collaboration, which the UK rejoined after Brexit.

As part of its plans to deepen collaborative links, the UK government will also look at using funds available through the £377 million International Science Partnerships Fund to enable UK researchers and innovators to collaborate with German partners on key projects.

Speaking on the new agreement, Donelan said: “Germany is the UK’s second-largest trading partner, as well as a critical science and research partner through the likes of Horizon Europe and CERN. To capitalise on this, bringing our shared strengths in science and technology together will be essential.

“By supporting our brightest minds and leading institutions to work together, we will maximise the opportunities for them to create new jobs, build new businesses, and ultimately deliver a better quality of life for us all.”

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Stark-Watzinger further remarked: “The UK’s association to Horizon Europe is a major step in this direction. But we must also deepen bilateral cooperation. The United Kingdom with its excellent research and its renowned science institutions, universities and companies is one of Germany’s key partners. In the face of current challenges, it is all the more important that we move ahead together and prepare the ground for joint research solutions.

“Today’s exchange of views together with the science communities in Germany and the UK is only the beginning. Our Joint Declaration of Intent provides the basis for good and close cooperation to strengthen science and research.”

The agreement marks the latest in a series of bilateral international science deals the UK has signed recently. In the last fortnight alone, partnerships have been announced with both France and Saudi Arabia.