EU and NZ strengthen science ties
The EU and New Zealand have signed a Science and Technical (S&T) cooperation agreement with the aim of further boosting collaboration between researchers from the two regions. As a result, researchers from New Zealand will benefit from enhanced access to the EU's research programmes, while European scientists will find it easier to participate in New Zealand's research activities. A 2003 survey by New Zealand's Ministry of Research, Science and Technology revealed that over half of the country's researchers were actively involved in collaborative research activities with European partners. Furthermore, over 20 teams from New Zealand participated in projects under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), mostly in the fields of food, agriculture and biotechnology. It hoped that the new S&T agreement will facilitate cooperation not only in existing spheres of research, but also in new fields where the two parties share common interest such as health, environmental sciences and information and communication technologies (ICTs). 'The signature of this agreement will open a new chapter in the S&T cooperation between New Zealand and the European Union, and will reinforce international cooperation in the research area,' commented Janez Potocnik, EU Science and Research Commissioner. He signed the agreement in Brussels, Belgium, on 16 July, along with Valérie Pécresse, the French Minister for Higher Education and Research and Peter Kennedy, New Zealand's Ambassador to the EU. 'Links to European research are very important for New Zealand as the European Union is investing heavily in research areas critical to our future economic and social development,' stated New Zealand's Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Pete Hodgson. Mr Hodgson also praised the recent Slovenian presidency of the EU for its efforts in moving the agreement forward. Since 1991, EU-New Zealand relations in the science and technology field have been governed by an Arrangement for Cooperation in Science and Technology (S&T). The signing of a full cooperation agreement should help to further deepen research links between the regions. The new agreement will enter into force following full ratification by both parties; this is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The agreement foresees the creation of a Joint EC-New Zealand Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation which will meet regularly to identify shared research priorities and plan future joint work. New Zealand has also recently obtained funding under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to extend support for the FRENZ ('Facilitate research cooperation between Europe and New Zealand') platform, which aims to facilitate cooperation between researchers from Europe and New Zealand. The signature of the S&T cooperation agreement with New Zealand brings the total number of S&T agreements between the EU and third countries to 33. Negotiations are currently underway to sign similar agreements with Japan and Jordan.
Countries
New Zealand