(photo: Franka Bruns)
Prof. Toope recently participated in a U15 conference that brought together Canadian universities and German counterparts for two days of discussion in Berlin, Germany. UBC has strong relationships with many of the German institutions that attended the event.
UBC is a member of the U15 network. Formed in 1991, the U15 is a group of leading Canadian research-intensive universities, with its primary activities focused on joint research programs. At the conference, Prof. Toope spoke at a roundtable discussion to present his views on global challenges and how research collaborations between Canada and Germany can help to address them.
While in Berlin, Prof. Toope signed a new agreement linking UBC with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, Europe’s largest institution for applied research. The new agreement establishes a framework for joint projects in areas such as biomass, fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, and energy efficient buildings. As well, the agreement aims to support scholarly and student exchanges while increasing commercialization opportunities and links with industry.
Building on a foundation of more than 40 years of partnership in science and technology, Canadian and German universities and research institutes have developed a strong culture of collaboration, leading to more than 500 joint research projects and 230 student exchange programs in both countries.