UK and China boost scientific relations

David Willetts, Minister for Science and Innovation, welcomes UK-China collaboration in Science and Education
(Credit: FCO)

Relations between the UK and China were strengthened further last week (10 June 2010) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between STFC and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).  The MoU aims to encourage greater collaboration and enhanced engagement between research institutions in the UK and China.

The signing of the MoU formed part of a wider delegation to China, led by David Willetts, Minister for Science and Innovation, and including STFC Chief Executive, Prof Keith Mason. The delegation examined the complementary strengths of the UK and China and the potential to develop a strategy for mutual collaboration between the two countries.

CAS is the one of the world's leading academic research organisations, its 97 research institutions and two universities are actively involved in both basic and applied sciences in all branches of science and technology. CAS already collaborates with a number of UK universities including Cambridge, Imperial and Oxford and UCL.

Commenting on the MoU, Professor Mason said: "The UK and China have many areas of common scientific interest and, by signing this MoU, STFC and CAS are demonstrating our continued commitment to not only working together but also to ensuring that our scientific advances bring huge benefits for the scientific communities across the UK, China, and the rest of the world."

The delegation also included discussions with the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, the UK-China Joint Commission and the Guanghua Foundation.

Notes for editors

Contact

• Wendy Ellison
  STFC Press Officer
  Tel: +44 (0)1925 603 232
  Mob: +44 (0)7919 548 012

About STFC