Australia-Germany Research Cooperation: Recent developments and strategic directions

Dr Judith ReinhardHead of Science & Innovation

German Embassy

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

• 1976 German-Australian agreement for cooperation in research and technology (WTZ-Abkommen)

• 2013 Berlin-Canberra Declaration of Strategic Partnership

• 2015-18 Australia-Germany Advisory Group (AGAG) to elevate relationship onto a new level

• 2019 defining next focus areas of strategic partnership

• JSTM biannual Joint Science and Technology Meetings

• Cooperation in R&I strong and rapidly expanding since AGAG: 600+ cooperation agreements; GER ranking 4th behind CHN, USA, JPN as top cooperation partner for AUS (esp. Fraunhofer, industry)

• Challenge for R&I cooperation: difference in funding systemsGER 3% GDP, high industry investment, flexible fundingAUS 1.8% GDP, little industry investment, regulated funding

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

AUS-GER Relations

• AGRN Australia-Germany Research Networkformally launched Nov. 2018LinkedIn Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13531832/quarterly newsletter info.berlin@dfat.gov.aunetworking events

• Falling Walls Lab3-min pitching competition for researchershosted since 2016 by Australian Academy of Science in Canberrasince 2019 state pre-selections (QLD, VIC) à 2020 in all stateswinners participate in FW Lab Finale and Conference in Berlin

• Falling Walls Venture research organisations nominate start-up/spin-off directly to Berlin

• Research-Industry Committee & Roundtableunder development, hosted by GK Sydney, Chamber of Commerce

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

Current Key Initiatives

• Energy Research

Since 2017 AUS-GER Energy Transition Hub

Several research cooperations with Fraunhofer

Oct 2018 BMBF fact-finding mission to AUS on renewable energyresearch, hydrogen, plans for energy research partnership

Feb 2019 Chief Scientist Alan Finkel in Berlin for hydrogen meetings with BMBF, BMWi and German Foreign Office

Sept 2019 Bilateral Energy Symposium in Melbourne (DEE, DFAT, BMWi, BMBF, WG Energy&Ressources, Energy Hub)

Sept 2019 BDI/acatech delegation to AUS on fact-finding missionabout hydrogen research and hydrogen economy

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

Current Focus Areas for R&I Cooperation

• Digital TransformationArtificial Intelligence: GER AI strategy Nov 2018, AUS AI strategy

expected 2019; common focus on human-centric AI (ethics, future of work); possibility of AUS assoc. membership in ELLIS

Industry 4.0: Siemens cooperation with AUS universities

Cyber security: bilateral dialogues b/ween govt, research, industry

• Health & Medical ResearchDigital patient records, healthcare tech, personalized medicine

3 Int. Research Training Groups (IRTGs) funded by DFG

Berlin-Brisbane Health Alliance since 2018

Several Fraunhofer research cooperations à long-term goal: Fraunhofer centre in Australia?

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

Current Focus Areas for R&I Cooperation

• HumanitiesKonrad-Adenauer Foundation KAS in Australia since 2017;

workshops, lectures with various AUS universities on cyber security, counter terrorism, AUS in the region, focus on China etc.

Nov 2018 DAAD Alumni meeting in Melbourne with DAAD SG:role of higher education, academic exchange in a global world, UN SDGs, digital transformation impacting society

Oct 2019 DFG president and delegation visiting AUS:role of universities in a global world, academic freedom

Nov 2019 Humboldt Alumni Symposium in Sydney:sharing knowledge in the spirit of Humboldt, research communication, dissemination and impact

In planning: Australian Institute for German and European StudiesAIGES; probably Canberra-based, funding tbc

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

Current Focus Areas for R&I Cooperation

• BioeconomyBMBF National Bioeconomy Strategy 2010; Bio-Agenda 2019Bilateral research workshops on Bioplastics & Biocomposites

in Queensland in Feb. 2019First government level workshop planned in Nov. 2019 in BrisbaneCircular Bioeconomy Cluster – Network Meeting in Brisbane Nov. 2019

on Environmental Technologies, Soil Reclamation,Microalgae, Water4All; funded by BMWi ZIM-Program (USA, FRA, GER, AUS, NZL, KOR)

• SpaceAustralian Space Agency ASA launched in July 2018; AUS

Civil Space Strategy 2019 focus on international cooperationGerman Aerospace Centre DLR negotiating MoU with ASA

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

Emerging Focus Areas for R&I Cooperation

4th AUS-GER Science and Innovation Day 09/10/2019, Brisbane

Australia-Germany Research Cooperationhttps://www.energy-transition-hub.org/https://www.ki-strategie-deutschland.de/home.htmlhttps://www.plattform-lernende-systeme.de/https://www.bmbf.de/de/biooekonomie-neue-konzepte-zur-nutzung-natuerlicher-ressourcen-726.htmlhttps://biooekonomie.de/enhttps://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/australian-civil-space-strategy-2019-2028https://www.kas.de/web/australienhttp://events.mq.edu.au/events/sharing-knowledge-in-the-spirit-of-humboldt/event-summary-06cc6f25fd8e45c3b3df8d2e365ad6dc.aspx

https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/https://www.daad.de/de/https://www.dfg.de/https://australien.ahk.de/