Defra, UK - Science - EU & International Science

EU & International Science

International Collaboration in Research and Development

Our scientific programme regularly benefits from international cooperation. Defra engages internationally on evidence and innovation to both promote policy interests directly and to influence European and other international decisions. Collaboration in this way offers opportunities to address common policy challenges through a joint research response, exploit the complementary strengths of different national research programmes, and achieve the critical mass needed to fund large-scale projects.

As part of this, Defra’s supports the developing European Research Area primarily through participation in the EU’s Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development. We promote and support UK engagement in the current Framework Programme – FP7 – in those areas of most relevance to our policy interests and objectives. In particular, we seek to influence the development of the Commission’s research work programmes within the “Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology” and “Environment (including climate change)” themes. We also look to maximise any opportunities to influence other FP7 work programme areas including energy, health and the nanosciences.

Defra participates on UK coordinating committees such as the Global Science and Innovation Forum (GSIF), whose strategic framework is to improve the coordination of the UK’s engagement in international science and innovation. We also participate in other EU and international science activities and fora, including the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR), the EU LIFE+ Committee, and support researcher collaboration and international mobility, particularly in the areas of agriculture and food, through COST (European Co-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research) and the cooperative research programmes of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).