Delegation of Scottish Scientists Visits at RPTU in Kaiserslautern
On Thursday, January 25, an 18-member delegation of Scottish scientists visited RPTU to learn about its activities in the field of biotechnology. Following welcoming remarks by the Vice President for Research, Professor Dr. Werner Thiel, and the SULSA Director, Dr. Alison McIntosh, various departments from the departments of biology, chemistry, and mechanical and process engineering presented their research in short presentations. There was plenty of time for networking over coffee and cake as well as a group lunch.
In the afternoon, the Anglo-Saxon guests visited the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence to learn about artificial intelligence in biotechnology.
The visit took place as part of a week-long visit by the delegation from the Scottish University Life Science Alliance (SULSA) to Rhineland-Palatinate.
This was preceded by a presentation on all biotechnology activities at Rhineland-Palatinate universities in Mainz (January 24, 2024), in which Professor Dr. Nicole Frankenberg-Dinkel (Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology) participated on behalf of the RPTU.
About SULSA and the collaboration with Rhineland-Palatinate
The Scottish University Alliance for Life Sciences (SULSA) was founded in 2004 by the Scottish Funding Council and six Scottish universities to encourage researchers from all Scottish higher education institutions to pool resources and collaborate in order to strengthen international competitiveness. SULSA now functions as a strategic partnership of twelve universities and one research institution. It serves as a gateway to a connected, dynamic, and vibrant life sciences research community in Scotland and supports equal access to academic careers and opportunities for research collaboration among member institutions.
International cooperation with Rhineland-Palatinate began in 2021 after the Scottish Government and the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health signed a memorandum of understanding to intensify their collaboration in the fields of education, culture, higher education, and research. As a result, there are now joint projects in various fields. In addition, a German-Scottish online conference for early-career researchers is planned for May of this year, which will be organized under the leadership of RPTU.