Overview

Current cooperation between Bavaria and Québec is based on a longstanding tradition of partnership which began in the early 1980s and was institutionalised in 1989. This cooperation spans into broad areas such as politics and administration, economy, science, research and technology, social and academic education, culture and society. Important synergy effects are also achieved in the interplay.

In joint workgroup conferences, which take place every two years in Bavaria and Québec, content-based priorities are established for the following two-year term. The 14th workgroup conference took place in Munich in 2016. The meeting in 2018 took place in Québec. Both sides have federal subsidies at their disposal for the financial support of joint initiatives according to the principle of reciprocity.

In the field of science, research and technology, the mobility programme is particularly emphasised. This enables activities for the networking of scientists from Bavaria and Québec and in the process guarantees initial funding for existing research plans.

The position, embedded in the Bavarian Research Alliance GmbH, of a senior scientific officer for international research association in Bavaria (with Québec/Canada in particular), accompanies these projects as an assignment from the Bavarian State Chancellery and in cooperation with the representatives from the Free State of Bavaria in Québec.

In the scientific-technological area, the two governments are currently funding about 20 bilateral research projects with the following thematic emphases:

In the strategic areas of aeronautics, renewable energies, environmental studies (especially climate change), nanotechnologies, transport, life sciences and neurosciences, key priorities are being established.

In contrast to the multi-year cooperation between Bavaria and Québec, which progresses within a fixed framework of institutional cooperation, the scientific-technological dialogue with Alberta is only in its initial phase.

Nevertheless, in strategic sectors such as energy, information and communication technologies (ICT), nanotechnology and life sciences, both joint research interests as well as complementary approaches are already available in many different ways.

This dialogue started in the context of the delegation-trip, initiated by Vice Minister Hans Spitzner, to Alberta in 2007. In addition to representatives from politics and economics, seven scientists from Bavarian universities and research centers took part in the trip. In discussions with scientists from Alberta, it was possible to line up bi-lateral research cooperation projects, which still exist. Regular student and faculty exchanges between universities in Bavaria and Alberta were increased.

During the delegation trip led by Vice Minister Katja Hessel in 2011, a first cross-disciplinary scientific network called ABBY-Net arose that is evaluating the co-evolution of energy systems and ecosystems. Together, the members of this network want to take part in international cooperative research efforts with partners from industry.

The 5th of June 2013 Minister Dr. Wolfgang Heubisch and the Honourable Thomas Lukaszuk, Deputy Premier of Alberta, Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education signed a Letter of Intent in Research and Technology.

On behalf of the Bavarian State Chancellery, the Scientific Coordination Office of the Bavarian Research Alliance supports the development of mutual research projects.

The Regional Leaders Summit (RLS) is a forum comprising seven regional governments (state, federal state, or provincial), which together represent approximately 177 million people across five continents, and a collective GDP of 3 trillion USD. The regions are: Bavaria (Germany), Georgia (USA), Québec (Canada), São Paulo (Brazil), Shandong (China), Upper Austria (Austria), and Western Cape (South Africa). Since 2002, the heads of government for these regions have met every two years for a political summit. These summits offer the RLS regions an opportunity for political dialogue.

During the sixth summit in São Paulo in 2012, the RLS member states adopted a Final Declaration, which included a commitment to joint research and innovation initiatives in the field of renewable energy.

''In order to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the total energy consumption, as well as contribute to the security of energy supply and to promote renewable energy on a global scale, we invite our universities, research institutes, and industrial clusters to join forces in the formation of a network, centered on renewable energy and energy efficiency, so that innovations and new products will be developed to achieve these goals. This initiative will be led by the Government of the State of São Paulo until 2014. The intensification of the cooperation in research is necessary to implement these technologies in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency broadly and at a reduced cost."

Within the framework of RLS, RLS-Sciences seeks to leverage the unique composition and strengths of the RLS network to support scientific research within and between the RLS regions. It works to generate and support academic, scientific, and technological exchanges, as well as the initiation of multilateral research projects. The existing resources of RLS-Sciences include its scientific network, the existing bilateral relationships between the RLS members, and its pilot project, the Energy Network (2013-ongoing). Further multilateral research projects are in the fields of digitalization, aerospace, small satellites, and digital health.

Review the RLS-Sciences structure here.
Learn more on the RLS-Sciences website.
 

Since its establishment in spring 2018, the scientific coordination office (WKS) Bavaria-Israel has been managing research projects of all disciplines from the EU research program and other funding programs with Bavarian and Israeli participation. The aim of the WKS Bavaria-Israel is to strengthen the Bavarian-Israeli dialogue on science and innovation and to initiate new cooperation projects.
With the "Bavaria-Israel Symposium", which has been held regularly since 2018, the office specifically promotes the bilateral exchange of knowledge in various thematic areas by means of joint workshops and delegation trips. The scientific coordination office Bavaria-Israel also organizes information events on new research areas and funding opportunities that are of great interest to both Bavaria and Israel. 
The WKS Bavaria-Israel welcomes inquiries and projects from all fields. 
Small and large projects are welcome! Company participation is always desired. Project ideas are always welcome: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis after initial consultation.

The Scientific Coordination Office Bavaria-Africa (WKS Bavaria-Africa) aims to intensify cooperation between Bavaria and African countries in science, research and innovation. In doing so, it supports both the Bavarian state government's objective to expand long-term partnerships with Africa and the European goal to foster closer cooperation between the European and African Union.

The WKS Bavaria-Africa provides information on current calls for proposals, funding opportunities and ongoing and completed projects with Bavarian and African participation. It connects stakeholders in Bavaria and African countries through dedicated events and within the framework of enhancing international research cooperation. On an individual basis, the WKS Bavaria-Africa advises and supports individuals and institutions who plan a joint research project on suitable funding schemes, in the application process and, if applicable, in project management.

Researchers at universities and universities of applied sciences, companies and civil society institutions interested in cooperating with African countries and Bavaria, can contact the WKS Bavaria-Africa at any time. Further information on our services can be found here.