Advanced crop breeding, tackling infectious disease and clean energy technologies are just three areas where the UK will partner with world-leading collaborators to push boundaries and meet 21st century challenges.
These are part of a £79 million investment in international projects that will see UK researchers and innovators working with their counterparts across the globe.
The projects, supported through the Fund for International Collaboration and delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), involve collaborators from 17 lead countries.
The Fund aims to enhance the UK’s excellence in research and innovation through global engagement, forging new bilateral and multilateral research and innovation programmes with global partners.
Science and Universities minister Chris Skidmore, said: “The UK has a reputation for globally influential research and innovation, and is at the centre of a web of global collaboration - showing that science has no borders.
“We have a strong history of partnering with other countries - over 50% of UK authored research involves collaborations with international partners.
“The projects being announced today reinforce our commitment to enhance the UK’s excellence in innovation at home and around the world, driving high-skilled jobs, economic growth and productivity as part of the modern Industrial Strategy.”
UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Sir Mark Walport, said: “From tackling climate change to preventing and treating infectious diseases, the search for knowledge is a global endeavour that requires collaboration between the world’s best minds.
“The Fund for International Collaboration and the creation of twelve global research hubs demonstrate the commitment of the UK to ensuring our researchers and innovators can work with their counterparts across the world to address important questions.”
The Fund for International Collaboration has been announced alongside a £200 million investment in 12 UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Hubs, which will work with governments, international agencies and NGOs on the ground in developing countries and around the globe, to address some of the most complex development challenges.
Further projects will be announced through the Fund for International Collaboration in due course.