Columbia: Supporting exchange between Germany and South America

In recent years, the Columbian government led by President Santos has made visible efforts to increase investment in education and research. Compared with other countries in the region, Columbia exhibits a relatively high level of education. At the first joint specialized discussions on education, science, research and innovation held in Bogotá in June 2012, the key research areas specified in the joint declaration were confirmed and the first, specific joint activities initiated. The next consultations are scheduled to take place in Germany in 2014.

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Political framework for bilateral cooperation in education and research

The cooperation between the BMBF and the Columbian Ministry of Education - MEN - is a joint declaration signed in April 2011 by Federal Minister Schavan and her Columbian counterpart Campo. Regular specialized discussions at a working level on education, science, research and innovation were agreed.

At the first joint specialized discussions on education, science, research and innovation held in Bogotá in June 2012, the key research areas specified in the joint declaration were confirmed and the first, specific joint activities initiated. The next consultations are scheduled to take place in Germany in 2014.

On her visit to Columbia in October 2012, Federal Minister Schavan signed a joint declaration with the Columbian Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation - COLCIENCIAS. The aim is to expand the bilateral research cooperation in a targeted manner. For this purpose, financing will initially be provided for bilateral mobility projects and specialist events relating to the key areas of focus biodiversity, biotechnology and health research.

Key areas of the German-Columbian cooperation

Great potential for cooperation exists for the topics bioeconomics and biodiversity (in this case, the great diversity of species is of particular interest to German science, above all) and in connection with the initiation of innovative networks, including in life sciences. The high academic level of Columbian universities and research institutions characterizes the country as an important cooperation partner in the region. With the financial support of the BMBF, several initiatives have already been launched in the areas mentioned above.

Furthermore, in the context of the restructuring of the Columbian vocational education system, the BMBF is involved in cooperation with the BIBB. At the specialized discussions in Bogotá in 2012, the Columbian training service - SENA announced that it would be founding a research institute for vocational training and education. The institute was inaugurated by Federal Minister Schavan on her visit to Bogotá in October 2012. The BIBB provides support for this scheme in the form of concept development for research projects and the creation of a national data report for vocational training, among other things.

Highlights of the bilateral cooperation

In November 2009, as follow-up activities to the first minister trips, the BMBF conducted two successful innovation forums attended by over 100 participants: the first was held in Bogotá with the title "Environment for Life" and focused on environmental sciences, technology and medicine, as well as biodiversity; the second forum with the title "MykoBak" in Medellín focused on leprosy, tuberculosis and Buruli.

The CEMarin Center of Excellence on the Columbian Caribbean coast is the result of marine research cooperation between Germany and Columbia spanning almost 50 years. The CEMarin opened on 7 October 2010 and is one of four global Centers of Excellence to receive funding of 1.5 million euros from the German Federal Foreign Office as part of the foreign science initiative.

On 15 July 2011, the MPG Science Tunnel was opened by the Columbian Minister for Education in the major Columbian city of Cali in the presence of high-ranking guests in the Pascual Guerrero Stadium. After its appearance in Cali, the multimedia exhibition financed by the BMBF travelled to the Columbian capital Bogotá, where, at the major national science fair EXPOCIENCIA 2011, it was visited by around 50,000 people between 18 October and 25 November. The exhibition was opened by the State Secretary of the BMBF, Thomas Rachel.

The first German-Columbian specialized discussions held in June 2012 gave the impetus for various bilateral activities. In September 2012, Potsdam University conducted a workshop on the subject of life sciences in collaboration with Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá. In October 2012, the Botanical Gardens of Berlin and Bogotá, in the presence of Federal Minster Schavan, signed a joint declaration intended to facilitate joint projects in the area of biodiversity management from 2013.

On her second visit to Columbia in October 2012, Federal Minister Schavan met in Bogotá with the Columbian Minister for Education, Campo, Minister for the Environment, Uribe, and the Mayor of the City of Bogotá, Petro. Furthermore, she also visited Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the Colegio Andino German school and the Botanical Garden of Bogotá. Federal Minster Schavan presented her Columbian counterpart with the Country Report for Columbia commissioned by the BMBF. This document provides information in German and Spanish on education, research and science in Columbia. With the aim of publishing a joint funding announcement from 2013, Federal Minister Schavan signed a joint declaration between the BMBF and COLCIENCIAS.

Funding the cooperation with Columbia

No S&T agreement exists with Columbia. An initial funding announcement of the BMBF and COLCIENCIAS for the promotion of scientific exchange programmes and specialist events in the above-mentioned key focus areas is planned for 2013. Currently, individual strategic initiatives instigated in the specialized discussions are subsidized by the BMBF.