Cooperation between Canada and the RWTH
The National Research Council/Conseil national de recherches Canada (NRC) was a guest at RWTH for the third time. This largest research organization in Canada focuses on industry-related research and technology transfer and is one of the most prominent players in Canadian science policy in this field. The aim of the visit, which was organized by the RWTH International Office, was to expand existing research collaborations and to develop joint funding programs. To this end, the exchange of scientists between the two institutions is to be promoted.
The visit was also used to sign a memorandum of understanding. It serves as the basis for a formalized cooperation and is the foundation for further joint activities. Research priorities for the collaboration include "Advanced Manufacturing", "Renewable Energy", "Clean Technology and Environmental Technology", "Advanced Transportation Technology and Autonomous Vehicles", "Mining Technologies" and "Digital Technologies and Quantum Technologies". Three bilateral projects, which have already been initiated with NRC funding, are being carried out by RWTH under the leadership of Professor Reinhart Poprawe (Chair of Laser Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology), Professor Bernd Lottermoser (Chair of Sustainable Resource Extraction) and Professor Oliver Guillon (Director of the Institute for Energy and Climate Research (IEK-1): Materials Synthesis and Manufacturing Processes at Forschungszentrum Jülich) conducted the conference.
NRC Vice President Francois Cordeau emphasized the importance of RWTH as a "key university partner" in Germany, with whom a long-term and sustainable partnership should be established. RWTH Rector Ulrich Rüdiger underlined the potential of the cooperation as strategic and emphasized the large number of synergy effects. The exchange of students and scientists is also planned.