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Enhancing Science Partnerships for Innovation and Sustainable Development

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Ambassador for the Year of Science

Interview with the special ambassador of the Year of Science, Motsi Mabuse
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Photo gallery: Closing Event in Berlin 16/04/2013

Science Network

German-South African Science Network
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Partners

Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)
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Goals

Germany and South Africa – a cooperation with a lot of potential

South Africa and Germany are united by a long standing, successful partnership. Since 1996 they have enjoyed a mutual collaboration agreement in the fields of science and technology. Germany has a great deal to offer in the fields of technology and applied sciences. The country at the Cape of Good Hope, for its part, is a research location of unprecedented value: the themes that people are working on all over the world  – water, climate, energy, biodiversity, health and education – are present in South Africa in concentrated form.

Now the two countries are underlining the special significance of their collaboration by organising the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, which was initiated by the former German Federal Minister of Education and Research, Annette Schavan (since February 2013 Johanna Wanka), and the South African Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor. As of October 2012 Pandor´s successor as Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, continues the cooperation.

The goals of the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013

The German-South African Year of Science 2012/13 aims to achieve the greatest possible degree of cooperation between these two centres of scientific endeavour. Germany and South Africa want to assume a joint responsibility for tackling global challenges and, with this in mind, are determined to intensify their communication and cooperation.

The following objectives are particularly to the fore:

  • To emphasise the diversity and excellence of the German-South African initiatives and projects in the fields of research and technology, also for the purpose of promoting Germany and South Africa as centres of innovation vis-à-vis research-conscious companies in the two countries.
  • To establish a new quality of bilateral cooperation, for example by setting up new partnerships between German and South African research institutions, universities, colleges and companies, as well as intensified collaborative arrangements between ministries and intermediary and support organisations.  
  • To intensify the exchange of views, insights and information between young scientists in the two countries. 

As an active participant in the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 you can help us to achieve these goals. For more information, please go to Participate.