International Cooperation

Collaboration with New Zealand

Following a recent event (FEAST) in Canberra, Australia, discussions have started with the New Zeeland Ministry of Research, Science and Technology to facilitate better links between researchers involved in the IST Programme with their New Zeeland colleagues.

Report of visit of an EU delegation to New Zealand, 18-19 November 2003

New Zealand (NZ) has a long history of institutional research and achievement. Three Nobel prizes have been awarded to NZ researchers, namely Rutherford, Wilkins and Macdairmid. The country has a world class education system, a results-oriented culture, low levels of institutional bureaucracy and a highly collaborative environment; 50% of NZ's 5000-6000 active researchers have a substantial research collaboration with a partner resident in an EU Member State. This is remarkable for a country with a small population (4 million) that is also geographically remote from the rest of the world. The government is supportive of the NZ research community forging even stronger linkages with its EU counterparts. More... ( 142KB)