German research delegation visits ANU

A senior delegation from Germany's key research agency the German Research Foundation (DFG) has visited ANU as the University seeks to deepen research and collaboration with Germany.

The delegation, led by DFG Deputy Head of International Affairs (Director for Asia Pacific) Dr Ingrid Kruessmann, met with ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Margaret Harding, Director of the ANU Centre for European Studies (ANUCES) Professor Jacqueline Lo, and senior academics from across the University.

ANU already has strong ties with Germany, with 10 active Student Exchange Agreements with German partner institutions. Since 2008, ANU researchers have co-authored around 2,500 publications with researchers based in Germany.

ANUCES also has long-standing collaborations with German research institutes and universities, including the Max Planck Institutes, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Social Sciences Academy in Berlin. ANUCES also regularly hosts visitors and speakers from Germany.

Nobel laureate Professor Brian Schmidt, who will become ANU Vice-Chancellor in 2016, has also served on the government's Australia-Germany Advisory Group, which aims to strengthen bilateral ties between Australia and Germany.

Professor Harding said the DFG delegation visit was well timed, as it coincided with the release of Excellence in Research for Australia data which found ANU leads the nation for research excellence.

"We are delighted to host the DFG delegation, and to showcase some of the world-class research and facilities we have here at ANU," Professor Harding said.

"International collaboration is important to ANU and the University is keen to deepen its already strong engagement and cooperation with researchers and institutions across Germany."