- Prime Minister agrees major Research, Science and Innovation
Arrangement with New Zealand
- Arrangement demonstrates commitment to closer bilateral
relationship, bringing UK and New Zealand researchers and
business together to address shared challenges
- UK also launches global programme in AgriTech, supporting UK
businesses grow and scale by establishing connections to New
Zealand’s leading AgriTech industry
The Prime Minister signed a historic agreement
with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Downing
Street today (Friday 1 July), strengthening the UK and New
Zealand’s collaboration in research, science, and innovation.
The Research, Science and Innovation Arrangement demonstrates a
commitment to developing deeper links between our science and
innovation communities, strengthening collaboration between the
two nations and building on areas of shared scientific and
innovative excellence.
Co-operation under the Arrangement is expected to be
wide-ranging, from joint research and development of new
technologies, to visits and exchanges of scientists, and
innovation missions between businesses.
The UK is working with New Zealand’s Ministry for Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
to deliver the agreement, which will support the ambitions set
out in the UK’s Integrated
Review to develop strategic science partnerships, and
strengthen the UK’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Science Minister said:
This is another step in our Science Superpower mission to widen
and deepen our post-Brexit global science programmes.
Today’s agreement with our New Zealand allies and partners
represents another victory for our bilateral relations in science
and innovation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where we are
also building strong working relationships with Australia,
Indonesia, Japan and South Korea. This is in addition to the
Science and Innovation Memorandums of Understanding I have now
agreed with Israel, Switzerland, Sweden and Canada.
As I made clear at the recent G7 science summit in Frankfurt, and
at the 47 nation Eureka Innovation Summit in Lisbon last week,
the UK is more committed than ever to deepening our international
research collaborations.
The agreement made today will give us the chance to deepen our
collaborations with New Zealand’s outstanding science and
research community in a number of areas, from space, quantum and
photonics, to Antarctic research and Agritech.
The combination of our long-standing UK leadership in plant and
animal science with New Zealand’s world class AgriTech eco-system
will also provide an exciting opportunity to build partnerships
and collaborations, showcasing the best of UK innovation in
efficient farming, and helping UK businesses grow and scale while
enabling access to global markets.
The Arrangement will support the UK’s access to New Zealand’s
niche capabilities in areas such as quantum technology, enabling
collaboration that will further global scientific development in
these important fields. The agreement will promote joint work
between our most innovative businesses and brightest researchers,
while supporting our ambition to become a global Science
Superpower and Innovation Nation.
The UK government is also announcing an Innovate UK Global
Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) in AgriTech
with New Zealand today, an endeavour which will support
innovative UK businesses to build high-potential connections with
New Zealand’s AgriTech industry.
The programme will enable access to New Zealand businesses,
universities, labs and investors, allowing innovators to work
with their counterparts to develop solutions to common industry
challenges, such as advancing the use of robotics and satellite
data for more efficient and precise farming. British SMEs will
also be supported in bringing their products and services closer
to global markets. Recruitment for eligible individuals is
planned to commence today.
Opportunities are already being explored with the British High
Commission in Wellington to put the Arrangement into action, and
deepen the connections between our research and innovation
communities.
