topic Ministry

Germany and Chile Strengthen Cooperation in Research and Science

Political framework for bilateral cooperation in education and research

The 1970 intergovernmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Chile forms the basis of scientific and technological (S&T) cooperation between the two countries. However, due to the political situation between the overthrow of the Allende government in January 1973 and the democratic election of President Aylwin in December 1989, this framework agreement only existed on paper for many years. The joint steering body in charge of S&T cooperation between the two countries is the Joint STC Commission, which first met in Chile in September 1999 and determined a joint action programme to breathe new life into S&T cooperation.

On the Chilean side, research policy is implemented by the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research, CONICYT (Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica). However, the point of contact for the bilateral STC with Germany is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This means that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the political partner, while CONICYT is the main specialist partner, particularly in funding the bilateral projects. On the German side, the BMBF, supported by the International Bureau of the BMBF, is responsible for the STC with Chile.

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, who took office in March 2010, is continuing the policy initiated by his predecessor Michelle Bachelet to promote Chilean research. Bachelet's government programme called for greater investment in the fields of research and development in order to increase the country's competitiveness. In May 2008, the Chilean government launched a new programme to promote and intensify further training for highly motivated graduates abroad (Sistema Bicentenario Becas Chile). A budget of six billion USD is to be made available over a period of ten years and the activities funded through the interest earned. The overall goal is to fund stays allowing approximately 30,000 Chileans to study for Master's degrees or doctorates abroad between 2008 and 2017. The fund began operating at the beginning of August 2008.

In a European context, Chile has prepared well for the 7th Framework Programme. An agreement on scientific and technological collaboration was signed in September 2002. Chile was among the ten most successful non-EU countries in terms of participation in the 6th Framework Programme.

Chile's economy has been experiencing a boom phase since 2004. Its GDP increased by 5.2% in 2007; in 2008 it was 3.2%, and is unlikely to slow down in the current year according to the German Office for Foreign Trade (bfai). Over the past twelve years the country's annual average GDP per capita has doubled, from $3,638 in 1994 to $9,884 in 2007. Consumer spending remains the main pillar of the economy with growth rates of approximately 7%. Imports have almost tripled over three years. According to the bfai, Chile's imports from Germany amounted to approximately 1.2 billion euros in 2007.

Key areas of German-Chilean cooperation

The Astronomical Observatory El Paranal of the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO). ©BMBFIn collaboration with its international partners, Chile is engaged in efforts to explore outer space and find out more about the Antarctic continent. The BMBF, together with numerous European and non-European partners, provides funding for the construction and operation of efficient large-scale research equipment such as telescopes and research satellites, which have provided significant research results relating, inter alia, to the development and origins of the universe, our understanding of galaxies and massive black holes, and the emergence of stars and planets. In a new research initiative, the Helmholtz association is developing a research plan under the heading Risk Habitat Megacity. The aim of this research endeavour is to develop strategies for sustainable urban development in Latin-American urban areas, focusing on overcoming the ecological, social, and economic risks of mega-urbanization. The first case study will be Santiago de Chile. Currently, researchers from five Helmholtz research centres, partner organizations from Chile, and UN-CEPAL are involved. In total, there are three programmes relating to megacities, which complement each other (HGF, DFG, BMBF). Plans to bundle these into a national initiative for research on megacities are currently underway.

Fraunhofer has now also founded a research centre in South America. The new "Fraunhofer Chile Research Center for Systems Biotechnology" was launched on 22 October 2010 with the signing of a joint declaration. The international centre of excellence is funded by INNOVAChile; the programme was initiated by the national business development agency CORFO with the aim of attracting excellent international research institutions to Chile for joint research and development cooperations. To facilitate the founding of up to five international research centres, 19.5 million USD are provided for each centre for a period of ten years.

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has also applied for the new CORFO funding instrument. Intended subject areas for the planned "KIT Chile" are energy, nano and micro research as well as a technology centre, astrophysics, climate and the environment. Which further centres of excellence will be approved in addition to the Fraunhofer Centre has not yet been decided.

Highlights of bilateral cooperation

The major earthquake that hit Chile in February 2010 also caused significant damage at numerous universities and research institutions. The earthquake destroyed much of their equipment and machines, which are urgently required for teaching and research. The BMBF has responded to this extraordinary situation by setting up a research technology fund of one million euros. The earthquake fund of the BMBF is managed and administered by the German Academic Exchange Service. Affected higher education institutions can apply for funds for equipment and consumables for research and teaching; support is to be provided in particular for existing and planned cooperations with German partners and faculties.

In addition to this fund for Chilean applicants, the BMBF has provided 650,000 euros at short notice for German research institutions whose projects within German-Chilean research cooperations have been affected by the earthquake.

In the year 2009, two innovation forums were held in Chile on behalf of the BMBF. Their aim was to raise the profile of German research in Chile and improve co-operation between universities, research institutions and companies in this area. The first forum, on the subject of "Environment: Water and Soil", took place from 6-8 October as part of the ExpoAmbiental in Santiago de Chile. The presentation of the Max Planck Society's "Science Tunnel", which was financially supported by the BMBF, opened in Valparaíso at the same time; the exhibition was also shown in other Latin American countries as part of the Bicentenario celebrations. A second innovation forum on "Remediation of Polluted Sites in the Mining Industry" took place from 2-4 November in Valparaíso. The second mixed STC commission meeting was held at the same time in Santiago de Chile to define future German-Chilean cooperation at a political level.

Federal Minister of Education and Research Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan's visit to South America also included a stop in Chile from 8-10 March 2009. Four agreements in the fields of education and research were signed in her presence and the foundation laid for the "Fraunhofer Chile Research Center for Systems Biotechnology" international centre of excellence.

Funding for collaborations with Chile

Bilateral scientific and technological cooperation with Chile has continually evolved thanks to the joint calls for proposals that have been published annually since 1999. The current key areas of S&T Cooperation are (1) biotechnology (particularly nutritional science), (2) basic research on renewable energies, (3) the sustainable use of natural resources, (4) environmental sciences and (5) marine and polar research. At the moment, the BMBF/IB is supporting 33 ongoing mobility projects with Chile.

Special activities of the BMBF and the science and intermediary organizations

In the field of university cooperation, the contacts between the German Rectors' Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, HRK) and its Chilean partner organisation CRUCH are particularly noteworthy. Following the previous signing of an equivalency agreement in 1999, which was augmented by an agreement on multi-phase degree courses - the first of its kind worldwide - in the year 2000, the HRK concluded a first cotutelle agreement ("cotutelle de thèse") in 2002 in Punta Arenas. It governs the procedure for bi-nationally supervised doctoral theses. In spring 2009, the Chilean University Rectors' Conference CRUCH and the HRK signed an agreement in the presence of Federal Research Minister Prof. Schavan on joint German-Chilean doctoral programmes in order to intensify scientific collaboration in selected areas of research between universities in the two countries. In the medium term, the aim is to set up a total of between four and six bi-national doctoral colleges. To concretise this initiative, the HRK together with the DAAD organised a German-Chilean conference on international joint doctoral programmes in early September 2009.

126 contractually regulated relationships between German and Chilean higher education institutions are currently registered with the HRK. This makes Chile one of the most significant partners of German universities in Latin America.

In March 2009, the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD) signed the new "Becas Chile" fellowship programme with the Chilean Ministry of Education; the programme provides funding for Master and postgraduate studies and research stays for postdoctoral students at German higher education institutions. A total of 500 fellows are expected to come to Germany over a period of five years. At the same time, a cooperation agreement with the same objectives was concluded with InWEnt to promote dual vocational education and training.

The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) is exploring possibilities for cooperating directly with a number of Chilean universities in promoting research. An outline for an international research training group is being prepared. In 2010, a call for proposals in the areas of geology, astrophysics and medicine was published for a specific DFG-CONICYT programme titled "German-Chilean Research Grants". Its aim is to for the first time create a direct opportunity for German and Chilean researchers to jointly apply for full research projects.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has accorded two research awards to scientists from Chile. In order to promote the exchange of internationally high-ranking researchers between the two countries, the Humboldt Foundation signed an agreement on the mutual awarding of research prizes with its Chilean partner organisation CONICYT in the presence of Federal Research Minister Prof. Schavan in spring 2009. From 2010, CONICYT will be awarding the new research prize "Abate Juan Ignacio Molina" to outstanding German scientists. Up to three German scientists a year may receive this award.

In January 2010, the University of Valparaíso and scientists of the Max Planck Society jointly organised a conference on the neurosciences and the nano sciences. The aim of this event was to identify research areas that would be suitable for greater collaboration. In the autumn of 2009, the Max Planck Society's Science Tunnel was exhibited in Chile as part of the Bicentenario activities with the support of the BMBF. With 104,000 visitors it was one of the most successful exhibitions worldwide relative to its duration.

In April 2006, the Alfred Wegener Institute of the Helmholtz Association (Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren, HGF) and the Chilean Antarctic Institute signed an agreement on collaborating more closely.