News story

Visit underlines cooperation in science, innovation and higher education

The agreement will see the UK and the United States increasing the links between their higher education institutions, including through increased…

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The agreement will see the UK and the United States increasing the links between their higher education institutions, including through increased post-graduate student and researcher exchange programmes. Both countries will also collaborate on a number of significant research projects and will embark together on an ambitious programme to create the world’s first combined space weather model.

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said:

“Our most productive science and higher education relationship is with the US and we are determined to strengthen it further. As globalisation gathers pace international cooperation in these areas has become even more important to boost Britain’s economic growth, and they are a key part of our overall relationship with the United States.”

The joint statement agreed today will lead to strengthened cooperation and new collaborative projects, including:

  • US company Johnson & Johnson and its company Janssen are to invest £5 million in a partnership with six leading British universities to undertake cutting edge neuroscience research
  • Improved sharing of satellite data and modelling will improve space weather forecasting
  • Up to £1 million of UK funding for joint research with the US in health and wellbeing, supported by the UK Research Councils.
  • A meeting of the UK-US Higher Education Policy Forum will be held in Windsor this coming October
  • Post-graduate student and researcher exchange programmes are to be further encouraged.

**Notes to editors:

**1. The text of the UK-US statement on Higher Education, Science and Innovation Collaboration is available at www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/us-uk-relations/science-education

  1. BIS’s online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See [http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom](http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom) for more information.

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

Name BIS Press Office Job Title

Division COI Phone

Fax

Mobile

Email NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Name Michael Gibbs Job Title

Division Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Phone 020 7215 1635 Fax

Mobile

Email michael.gibbs@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Published 25 May 2011