- UK and Canadian Ministers agree deeper collaboration on
quantum, climate change and biomanufacturing to upskill
workforces and boost growth
- Package sees Canada named as a partner to UK’s £119m
International Science Partnership Fund scheme, through initial
£4.5m funding
- Ministers signed Memorandum of Cooperation on
biomanufacturing including a £20m joint programme
The UK and Canada has today (Thursday 8 June) unveiled agreements
on biomanufacturing, quantum, climate change and alternative
protein research, as part of a package of announcements aimed at
greatly deepening collaboration on science and innovation between
the two countries.
UK Science Minister George Freeman was in Ottawa today, meeting
Canada’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Industry,
Francois-Phillipe Champagne, to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation
on biomanufacturing and launch a £20m joint biomanufacturing
programme.
The £20m joint biomanufacturing programme, which will receive
£10m from each government, is designed to grow the
biomanufacturing sector between the UK and Canada to ensure both
countries are fully prepared for future pandemics.
This will include efforts to build a talent pipeline for
biomanufacturing, providing the skilled workforce needed to grow
the sector in the future, funding UK and Canadian businesses and
research organisations to work together on joint projects
developing the future products and services, and backing
businesses in the sector to grow and scale at speed through
greater links with investors and shared knowledge.
The focus of the Biomanufacturing Collaboration is to drive
economic growth by bringing together the complementary strengths
from Canada and the UK to support the growth of businesses in
this area, delivering economic growth for both nations and
creating highly-skilled jobs.
The memorandum is just one of several agreements being made today
by the two science and innovation powerhouses, aimed at tackling
some of the biggest issues facing our world, from tackling
climate change through to ensuring both nations have the vaccine
production capabilities to meet the needs of future pandemics.
They will also drive economic growth in both the UK and Canada,
ensuring high-growth industries like quantum and biotechnology
benefit from both government investment and closer international
collaboration.
UK Minister of State for the new Department for Science,
Innovation and Technology, , said:
The UK and Canada are natural partners, with shared cultural,
economic and historical ties that stretch back centuries and a
strong recent history of collaboration on science and innovation
across a range of key sectors from agri-tech to genomics and
space.
In the global race for science and technology investment, and as
we turn towards innovation in order to tackle urgent global
challenges, the UK and Canada share deep values and interests in
harnessing science for global good.
As we deepen our global science and technology collaborations
with key R&D economies, I’m delighted to be in Canada to
agree a range of sectors in which to deepen our longstanding
collaboration: from AI, biosecurity and engineering biology
through to quantum, space sustainability and polar research.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister
of Innovation, Science and Industry said:
The United Kingdom and Canada have a uniquely profound and
positive relationship, nourished by our shared history and
values.
Today’s memorandum of cooperation on biomanufacturing and the
joint statement on quantum science and technology are important
steps to make the most of our world-class capabilities, which
will drive innovation and economic growth in our both countries.
We will continue to work together to foster greater collaboration
in science and research to shape the economy of the future.
Alongside the Memorandum of Cooperation on biomanufacturing, the
UK and Canada has agreed a range of collaborations as part of
today’s announcement, including:
- Canada announced as a partner to the UK’s £119m International
Science Partnership Fund (ISPF). Initially, this would see £4.5m
in funding to enable UK researchers to take part in the
Canada-led International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate
Change and Adaptation and Mitigation, which sets out plans to
help the most vulnerable people globally to deal with the impact
of climate change.
- A Statement of Intent on Quantum, which sets out a roadmap of
activity including the introduction of joint research programmes
and increased mobility for researchers. Collaboration begins
immediately, with 20 PhD students from Canada travelling to the
UK to participate in the UK-Canada quantum summer school.
- An Innovate UK–Protein Industries Canada to advance
innovation in plant-based foods through collaborative R&D
projects between businesses and research organisations from
Canada and the UK.
