Cooperation with European Countries

Cooperation with European countries is one of Germany's top priorities. A major part of this cooperation is multilateral and aims to actively shape the European Research Area. Bilateral cooperation focuses on establishing and developing partnerships between stakeholders in the research community, facilitating coordination processes at all levels, and promoting the generation of synergy between projects and partners. Joint initiatives and the identification of topics that are of mutual interest contribute to European strategy development and to shaping the European Research Area.

These activities are aimed in particular at implementing the Federal Government's Internationalization Strategy in European countries, mainly by fostering research cooperation with the world's best and making the most of innovation potential through cooperation. Cooperation with European countries is particularly strong when it comes to implementing the BMBF's funding programmes. Networking and research cooperation instruments (for example, a call encouraging cooperation by partners in the Baltic Sea countries) and joint events like research and innovation forums serve to strengthen the cooperative relations with European partners. The "International Cooperation in Education and Research - The Central, Eastern and Southeastern European Region" programme is an important instrument in the BMBF's cooperation with eastern European countries, as it provides funding for preparatory projects in the areas of applied research, development and education.

In recent years, the BMBF and the science and research institutions it supports have expanded their cooperation and contributed to an intensification of collaboration in research and education by introducing new agreements and instruments.

The bilateral activities are supplementary to the European programmes and initiatives, particularly those of the Seventh Research Framework Programme, EUREKA and COST. The integration of the western Balkan countries (WBC) into the European Research Area is supported in particular by European network projects such as the WBC INCO Net and the Southeast Europe ERA Net, which involve the participation of the BMBF as well as partner ministries and institutions from numerous European countries.

France
Italy
Poland
Czech Republic
Hungary
United Kingdom
Other European countries

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Poland - intensified cooperation in science and research

Cooperation between Germany and Poland in education and research is well established in many areas, offering an excellent starting point for collaboration within the European context. Relations with Poland in the field of education and research have acquired a new quality following Poland's accession to the European Union.
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Research Cooperation between Germany and France

The 50th anniversary of the signing of the Élysée Treaty was honoured by the French and German Federal Governments at the 15th Franco-German Council of Ministers in Berlin on 22 January 2013 Council. Ministers from both countries stressed the significant role of science and research in the relationship between the France and Germany, as well as in Europe, and agreements were made to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of research, innovation and technology.
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The United Kingdom

Germany and the United Kingdom work together closely, both bilaterally and in international organizations. This is reflected in the large number of contacts and collaborations between British and German actors in the political, scientific, cultural and economic arena.
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Exchange between Italy and Germany - Filling the European idea with life

Germany is Italy's most important trade partner. Relations with Italy in other respects have also traditionally been close and very diverse. Both national governments and as well as parliamentarians from Germany and Italy engage in a regular exchange of ideas which is enriched by many opportunities to meet at international conferences. The activities of Villa Vigoni, the German-Italian Centre for European Excellence, emphasize the commitment of both countries to cultural and scientific exchange. On 15 January 2012, the new building of the Bibliotheca Hertziana of the Max Planck Institute for Art History was officially opened in Rome. The Bibliotheca was founded in 1913 as meeting place for art scholars from around the world.
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Turkey

Turkey's strong economic development is making it an increasingly attractive partner for both Germany and Europe. Germany and Turkey have a special relationship, not least due to the large number of Turkish citizens and people of Turkish descent living in Germany and to the integration policy of the European Union. There is a long tradition of German-Turkish cooperation in education, science and research, dating back to the days of the Ottoman Empire.
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