The 2018 Joint Science and Technology Meeting (JSTM) provided an opportunity for Germany and Australia to exchange experiences in facilitating research-industry collaboration and consider opportunities for closer science and technology alignment.
The JSTM also provided an opportunity for policy makers, senior executives and science representatives from major research organizations to discuss recent policy developments and programs in both countries.
Germany and Australia agreed that collaboration will focus on the following fields and areas of mutual interest for the 2018 – 2020 period:
- Cooperation related to:
- research-industry linkages (clusters) and innovation
- research infrastructure
- energy research with a special focus on hydrogen
- innovation research
- Fraunhofer Institutes with Australian institutions
- increasing mobility of students and researchers between Germany and Australia
- opportunities to promote Australian and German science and innovation
Ms. Mary Ann O´Loughlin, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) led the Australian delegation, which included government officials and research organizations.
Mr. Thomas Rachel, Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) led the German delegation, which included officials from German research organisations and departmental officials.
The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research look forward to the opportunity to strengthening the relationship between both countries and have agreed that the next Joint Science and Technology Meeting will take place in Germany in 2020.