International Cooperation

Climate

From November 6 to 17, 2017, the 23rd World Climate Change Conference (COP23) of the United Nations will take place in Bonn. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is represented with various contributions.

continue

Against the background of rapid economic development coupled with fast population growth and increasing urbanization, the People’s Republic of China struggles with the consequences of serious water pollution, which increasingly affects the security of its population´s water supply. This, as well as extreme events like droughts and floods, has led to many deaths and high financial losses, with the result that the topic of water in China is now at the center of social and political attention.
Having previously had to overcome similar challenges in terms of water pollution, Germany has become one of the market leaders in the field of water technology. By linking management and technology, Germany was able to overcome most pollution problems and is now considered a global leader in the field of water conservation and drinking water quality. Therefore Germany is an ideal partner to support China in addressing its challenges in the water sector.
The countries sealed their partnership during the first German-Chinese inter-governmental consultations in June 2011 in Berlin, where they signed the joint declaration on the German-Chinese Research and Innovation Programme Clean Water, operated by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The Programme comprises the topics of water supply, wastewater treatment, water resource protection and cleaner industrial production. An essential component of its implementation is provided through bilateral water research and innovation projects (see link box). To a great extent the focus also lies on the adaptation/modification of German technologies and concepts for sustainable water management to fit Chinese requirements. Additionally, cross-functional approaches will be implemented in education and advanced training.
The Programme is supported by a project office, which was established in 2012 at Tongji University in Shanghai. To further the Programme implementation, we have also established a “Clean Water Innovation Center” within the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech-Park in Shanghai which shall serve as a platform for companies and research institutions of both countries to enhance the Programme and accelerate the implementation of innovative solutions. The political framework for establishing this Innovation Center was set during the signing of a joint declaration by Minister WAN Gang (MoST) and Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas RACHEL (BMBF) on 28 March 2014 in Berlin. The Innovation Center opening ceremony was held on 30 April 2014, attended by Vice-Minister Dr. CAO Jianlin (MoST), State Secretary Dr. Georg SCHÜTTE (BMBF) and other senior figures from politics, science and industry in Germany and China.
Another Programme milestone was reached with the inauguration of the world’s first SEMIZENTRAL Water Supply and Treatment Center on 27 April 2014 in Qingdao. State Secretary Dr. Georg SCHÜTTE and Vice-Mayor WANG Jianxiang jointly formally opened the Center. The SEMIZENTRAL Water Supply- and Treatment Center is the outcome of approximately 10 years of joint R&D work on SEMIZENTRAL. The inauguration was incorporated in the wider International Horticulture Exposition 2014 in Qingdao, increasing its international visibility.

Water Management

German-Chinese «Research and Innovation Programme Clean Water»

The joint declaration on the bilateral programme “Clean Water”, which was signed on the occasion of the first German-Chinese inter-governmental consultations in June 2011 in Berlin, is being implemented and developed further.

continue

Climate

IPCC

(only available in German) Der Weltklimarat (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC) ist eine Einrichtung der Vereinten Nationen. Seit seiner Gründung 1988 stellt er die Grundlagen für wissensbasierte Entscheidungen der Klimapolitik bereit ...

continue

Marine and Polar Research

Scientific and Technical International Cooperations

(only available in German) Im Rahmen der wissenschaftlich-technischen Zusammenarbeit (WTZ) werden wissenschaftliche Fragestellungen des Programms "Forschung für nachhaltige Entwicklung" in Form bilateraler Projekte umgesetzt. In der Regel wird die ...

continue

Climate

Regional Science Service Centres (RSSC)

German and African researchers begin initiative for adaption to climate change.

continue

Marine and Polar Research

BONUS

BONUS, the joint Baltic Sea research and development programme for years 2010-2017, was started by the BONUS member states together with the EU and officially launched in September 2010 by a co-decision of the European Parliament and the European Council ...

continue

Water Management

JPI Water

(only available in German) Die Joint Programming Inititative „Water Challenges for a Changing World“ (Water JPI) unterstützt die europäische Forschungskooperation im Bereich der Wasserforschung. Die von den derzeit 23 Mitgliedstaaten getragene ...

continue

Climate

Climate

(only available in German) Vom 2. bis 15. Dezember 2018 fand die 24. Weltklimakonferenz (Conference of the Parties, COP) im polnischen Kattowitz statt. Das BMBF brachte bei der COP24 mit diversen Veranstaltungen und Beiträgen zur Ausstellung im ...

continue

Ressourcenschonen europaweit: Das ERAMIN-Programm.

Resource efficiency

ERA-MIN 2

(only available in German) Der Rohstoffbedarf der Menschheit wächst stetig. Daher müssen mit Hilfe der Forschung innovative Wege gefunden werden, um Rohstoffe effizient und nachhaltig bereitzustellen. Das ERA-Net ERA-MIN 2ist eine gemeinsame ...

continue

Business people at conference table, woman making hand gestures

Climate

JPI Climate

JPI Climate contributes to a highly coordinated knowledge development by improving the scientific expertise on climate change risks and adaptation options, and by connecting that knowledge with decision-making on safety and major investments in ...

continue

Biodiversity

Biodiversa

Facing the threat of biodiversity decision makers need from research sustainable concepts for using and retaining natural resources. The parternship BiodivERsA coordinates biodiversity research funding in Europe.

continue

Water Management

Scholarship programme Sustainable Water Management

The aim of the scholarship programme is the promotion of young scientists from selected countries. They have the opportunity to study or to carry out PhD projects. Additionally, German research institutes organized summer schools.

continue

Marine and Polar Research

JPI Oceans

(only available in German) Die Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans) wurde 2011 als koordinierende und strategische Plattform ins Leben gerufen. JPI Oceans mit seinen momentan 21 Mitgliedsstaaten zielt auf ...

continue

Climate

ECCA

(only available in German) Europäische Plattform für den Austausch von Wissenschaft und Praxis zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel

continue

Resource efficiency

EIT

The European Institute for Innovation and Technology was founded to enhance the innovative power in Europe and thus the economic competitiveness. It was established in 2008 and is based in Budapest/Hungary.

continue