European Countries

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Background information Europe

Strengthening the European Research and Innovation Area is pivotal to cooperation with partner countries in Europe.

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Belgium's federal structure has a strong impact on its research policy. Belgium and Germany are connected by a close, neighbourly relationship. There is no government-level agreement on bilateral cooperation in the field of science and research between the two countries.

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Bulgaria

Following its EU membership in 2007, Bulgaria has been improving its innovation competencies and technological capabilities, which is mirrored in its parameters of international benchmarks. Impacts of Bulgarian top research can be observed on an EU level. Germany is Bulgaria’s central cooperation partner country.

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Czech Republic

The Czech Republic continues to increase its strategic R&D investments. This is the way in which the country strives to catch up with Europe's innovation leaders from 2030 onwards, and Germany will be its key strategic partner on this path. The European Research Area (ERA) will benefit from the strengths of both countries in science and economy.

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Denmark

Denmark is one of the most competitive and innovative countries in the world. The Federal Republic of Germany cooperates intensively with its neighbour Denmark, both at European level and within the Baltic Sea Cooperation.

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Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The three countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are often referred to collectively using the political term “Baltic states”. Together, these states have a population of around seven million and boast a long tradition of positive relations with Germany. After the economic crisis of 2008, the economies of the Baltic states have again stabilised, and they count among the few Euro countries that meet the Maastricht convergence criteria.

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Finland

Finland is one of the world leaders in innovation, research and development, technology and competitiveness. For years, Germany and Finland have been cooperating intensively at European level, not least within the framework of the Baltic Sea Cooperation.

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France

France is Germany’s most important cooperation partner among EU member states. Close cooperation exists in many areas and at different levels: between ministries, research, educational and scientific organisations and in projects. Numerous and diverse cooperation activities have developed between Germany and France in the last 60 years.

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Greece

For Germany and Greece, bilateral research cooperation within Europe is a key element of national research policy. The joint Research and Innovation programmes and the approaches in vocational training provide a significant impetus for further strengthening the close cooperation.

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Hungary

Hungary is viewed as a strong location for science and research in Central Eastern Europe. Highly renowned universities, such as the Semmelweis and the Eötvös-Loránd Universities, are situated in the capital Budapest. Alongside other excellent universities in cities such as Debrecen, Szeged or Pécs, Hungary offers an attractive research landscape for cooperation.

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Italy

Germany is Italy’s most important trading partner with traditionally close and varied relationships. The governments of Germany and Italy regularly exchange views and meet frequently. Both countries are very interested in a scientific, cultural and economic exchange resulting in joint activities in many areas.

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Netherlands

Research, development and innovation play an increasingly important role in the Netherlands. In the areas of science and technology, the relationships between Germany and the Netherlands are not formalised. Both countries maintain intense and friendly neighbourly relations, the regional cross-border collaboration is of great significance in many areas.

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Norway

One of Norway's most important political objectives is ensuring that economic growth continues even after the oil and gas era. For this reason, the Norwegian government is focusing on restructuring the economy, which until now has only been moderately knowledge-intensive.

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Poland

The research, innovation and education cooperation between Germany and Poland is firmly established. This provides an excellent basis for further cooperation within the European Research Area.

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Romania

Following Romania's accession to the EU in 2007, Germany has become one of its most important partners. German experts and technologies are in high demand when it comes to initiatives and impacts in the frame of the European Research Area. The traditional strength of Romania's research lies in basic science and engineering.

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Slovakia

In recent years, Slovakia has increasingly focused on the promotion of research and development. The objective of a science-based economy is expressly pursued. The German-Slovakian cooperation is based on the agreement regarding the scientific and technological collaboration (STC) with what was then Czechoslovakia, in 1990.

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Slovenia

International cooperation is a priority for Slovenian research and education policy. Germany is an important cooperation partner for Slovenia in Europe. Researchers in the two countries are actively working on joint projects in designing the European Research Area.

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Spain

Spain is an important partner for Germany in international collaboration, both for bilateral cooperation and for joint activities within the European Research Area. Solar research, health research and technology (such as 'Ambient Assisted Living'), Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and life sciences (in particular crop research) constitute key aspects of specialisation in the cooperation with Spain.

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Sweden

Sweden has been research and innovation leader in Europe for many years, especially in the life sciences and in information and communication technologies. Thanks to massive investment in research and development and good links between research and business, Sweden leads the 28 European Union member states when it comes to innovation.

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Switzerland

For many years, Switzerland has been one of Germany’s ongoing partners in cooperation in education and research. This is true for bilateral cooperation, but also for collaboration at European and international level.

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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Germany and the United Kingdom cooperate closely both bilaterally and within international organisations. The wealth of contacts and cooperations between British and German actors on political, scientific, cultural and economic levels bears witness to this.

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Western Balkan countries

The integration of the Western Balkan countries (WBC) into the European Research Area (ERA) and the promotion of interregional research cooperation as a contribution towards the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) are of central importance for the research policy of both the region and the European Union.

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