To promote and deepen scientific collaboration, the University of Cambridge and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission represented respectively by Jennifer Barnes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Strategy and Vladimír Šucha, Director-General, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Vladimír Šucha said the MoU followed a series of contacts between the two organisations: "I'm extremely happy that we're going to have a formalised understanding between the Joint Research Centre and Cambridge University. I hope very much that European policy will profit from these contacts and from this ocean of knowledge within Cambridge."
Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor of the Cambridge University added: "All the best science in the world without translation into policy really is of no practical value in the world of tomorrow. Doing the science itself is not enough - we have to work with those who are in positions of making decisions, as these will affect the lives of citizens of Europe".
The MoU foresees cooperation in development of practices in the use of evidence to inform policymaking, notably with the University of Cambridge Centre of Science and Policy; academic exchanges; and joint research projects in areas of common interest. A pilot activity on Green Growth and Sustainability is already being developed involving the JRC Institute for Environment and Sustainability, The Cambridge Forum for Sustainability and the Environment and The Cambridge University Strategic Initiatives.
This is the latest in a number of agreements with which the JRC pursues closer cooperation with the European scientific community through partnerships with universities, national academies and other umbrella research organisations. The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and is widely regarded as one of the world's most influential and prestigious academic institutions.
###
Related links:
University of Cambridge: http://www.cam.ac.uk/