Presentation by Sir Mark Walport at the #BMBF conference in Berlin on international scientific collaboration, 2 October 2014.

1. Internationalisation of Science and Technology in
Germany – the View from Outside
Sir Mark Walport
Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government

2. International Science
What do we mean?
1. Collaboration amongst scientists
2. Scientific Grand Challenges
3. Capacity building in developing countries
4. Working together on large scale equipment
5. Location-specific science
6. Science in ungoverned spaces
7. Promoting national science internationally
8. Providing science advice to government
2 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside
Credit: NASA

3. 1. Academic Collaboration
The ‘standard model’ for international collaboration - Bibliometrics
• In both the UK and Germany, articles are twice as likely to be cited if
internationally co-authored vs co-authors in the same institution.
• 46% of UK scientific papers co-authored with international partners. 2008-
2010 Germany was second only to USA for co-authorship with the UK.
3 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside
Credit: Olivier H. Beauchesne

4. 2. The Scientific Grand
Challenges
• Working together internationally on
the big challenges we face
• Infection control
• Climate
• Environment
• Food Security
• Genome
Credit: biology- pictures.blogspot.com
Credit: Jorge Paparoni/CC BY-SA 2.0
4 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

5. 3. Capacity building in Other
Countries
• Building capacity for science in
developing countries is a win-win
• Newton - £75m per year for 5 years.
– With matched funding
• Wellcome – Major research and
capacity building programmes
• BMBF’s bilateral with countries such
as Uzbekistan in Central Asia
• International Years of Science –
important to spearhead new areas of
collaboration
5 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

6. 4. Working Together on
‘Big Kit’
Partnership funding models give us access to world
class equipment beyond national affordability.
LHC
6 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside
ITER
Credit: AFP/Getty
Credit: ITER Organization 2011

7. 5. Location Specific Science
There are things we want to do
which must happen in certain
geographic regions:
•Favourable environmental conditions –
Extra Large Telescope
•Geographic spread of disease –
Malaria, Ebola
•Ecosystem distribution – endangered
species, ecosystem services
Max Planck ATTO a good
example
Credit: ESO, E-ELT
Credit: MPI for Biogeochemistry/Michael Hielscher
7 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

8. 6. Science Ungoverned
Spaces
There are locations where science occurs ‘beyond
government’. Collaboration is essential in order to work in
these areas.
Credit: AP Credit: Getty Images
8 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

9. 7. Promoting national capability
internationally
Working internationally we can:
• Export our ideas (and
goods/services!)
• Build a reputation as a
science and innovation nation
• Attract direct foreign
investment
• Attract overseas students and
scientists
• Lend credibility to our position
in debates
9 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

10. 8. Providing Science Advice
to Government
Routine science advice on
transnational issues:
•Air/water pollution
•EU food imports
Credit: REUTERS/Eric Vidal
Transnational incidents and
emergencies will require advice
from multiple nations.
GCSA model has many benefits
10 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

11. The UK System – A Government Chief Scientific Adviser
• High level adviser and champion for
science/engineering/technology/social
science – “Wissenschaft”
• Supported by the Government Office for
Science and a network of CSAs across
government; Head of Profession for
scientists across government
• Reports to the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Secretary, works across government
• A number of advantages: speed,
continuity, integration – particularly useful
in times of emergency
11 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

12. The common theme is scientists
Scientists:
• Can argue in public more easily than
diplomats!
• Can talk about difficult subjects more
acceptably
• Are often more ‘believed’, especially by
the public
• Are very used to sharing, (facilities,
people and ideas!) across boundaries
In fact, science is at its best when it is
an international endeavour
12 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

13. What is the UK doing?
Science & Innovation Networks
Science and Innovation Network offices across the globe
• Set up in 2001 with the aim of
linking science more directly to
its foreign policy priorities.
• Now 93 staff in 28 countries and
47 cities around the world
• Work alongside other diplomats
and representatives of UK
bodies
• Understand and link science to
policy, people and priorities
13 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

14. What is the UK doing?
Science and Innovation Strategy
New Science and Innovation Strategy
to be published in Autumn 2014.
Public consultation on how money
should be spent – big projects inviting
academic input.
International a key part of the strategy:
•Making the UK an attractive place for
science and scientists.
•Creating high quality jobs in the UK
•Highlighting UK thought leadership in
international science
Credit: iStockphoto
14 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

15. @uksciencechief
www.gov.uk/go-science
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