A new £20 million three-year programme that will support research to develop new low carbon manufacturing processes and technologies, low carbon cities and offshore renewables in the UK and China was agreed yesterday, Wednesday 5th March 2014.
Representatives from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), as part of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme, signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) at a meeting in London which was witnessed by the UK’s Minister of State for Climate Change, Greg Barker.
Under the MoU, the UK and China will each commit £10 million of matched resources over the next three years and there will be approximately £6.6 million available each year. The agreement, is the latest collaboration in a series of joint research programmes stretching over the last five years that have already reaped rich rewards for both countries.
Professor Li Ming, Deputy Director, Department of Engineering and Materials Sciences at NSFC said, “In the past few years, NSFC and RCUK have witnessed substantive development of their bilateral relationship and enjoyed successful collaboration in the area of energy research. We look forward to continuing the collaboration and bringing more benefits to the two scientific communities.”
Professor David Delpy, EPSRC Chief Executive, said: “This latest agreement addresses how to develop new low carbon methods of manufacturing, urban living and energy production. Meeting the needs of industry and consumers, while reducing the demands humankind places on the environment, are similar challenges for both China and the UK. International collaborations like these bring the best academic talents together to find the solutions that can benefit all.”
Welcoming the programme Minister of State for Climate Change, Greg Barker said: “I am very pleased to witness the next stage of this ambitious programme. Investing in innovation and science is essential for both the UK and China to address energy supply issues and meet emissions targets, as well as drive long-term economic growth. In the UK we have ring-fenced a science budget worth £4.6 billion per year, and invested £29 million in joint projects with China.”
Original release: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/NEWSEVENTS/NEWS/2014/Pages/lowcarboninnovation.aspx
