The end of the German-Russian Year of Education, Science and Innovation 2011-12 was marked by a ceremony at the Free University Berlin on May 22. Kicking off a year earlier, this “Partnership of Ideas” aimed to display the diversity and excellence of German-Russian cooperation in the fields of education and research. By highlighting some of the past successes, organizers sought to raise awareness about current and future projects.
German Education Minister Annette Schavan and her Russian counterpart at that time, Andrei Fursenko, opened the event in Berlin, stating then that the closing of the German-Russian Year of Science should not be seen as the conclusion of common efforts in these fields, but rather as a starting point for further partnerships between Russia and Germany.
“Our relations on the education and research level have intensified noticeably,” Schavan remarked. “We have initiated numerous developments that go far beyond this ‘Year of Science’.”
For his part, Fursenko expressed his gratitude to German institutions for their collaboration and highlighted that Germany is Russia’s most important partner in terms of scientific cooperation. He suggested that the achievements of the science year should be further developed in Russia so that they can contribute to the growth of Russian society.
Over the course of the year, both the German and Russian governments worked with actors in a number of business and education sectors focused on four key areas: the development of cutting-edge research practices; bilateral cooperation in vocational training; joint innovation partnerships and the encouragement of “Young Scientists.”
Regarding the intensification of cutting-edge joint research, the mutual opening and the new creation of research structures were advanced as well as the joint promotion of projects by both ministries. Large scale projects such as the European x-ray laser XFEL and the international accelerator project FAIR, which are being developed in Hamburg and Darmstadt respectively, derive from this partnership.
In the field of vocational and advanced training politicians, entrepreneurs and scientists attended a vocational training conference in Kaluga. Volkswagen is a forerunner due to its vocational training center in Nizhny Novgorod, while Bosch’s Moscow training center is equally well known for its production of skilled workers. The results of the conference were included in bilateral government consultations, and pilot schemes were launched to enhance joint innovation partnerships.
Stakeholders also addressed issues facing joint innovation partnerships and motivating young scientists to conduct research in their homelands, with exchanges taking place between the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Young Academy at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Council of Young Scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Noting the importance of such cultural and scientific exchanges, Minister Schavan said, “The permanent dialogue between German and Russian young scientists will deepen cooperation. I am pleased that this common cause has achieved considerable progress.”
According to Schavan, the German-Russian partnership is likely to continue as it transitions into “a new phase”, indicated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding for future cooperation by both science ministers as well representatives of German and Russian scientific and academic institutions.
Post new comment