In a seminar held at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) on Tuesday, 30 January 2024, Gerda Winkler, German Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, showcased Germany's rich history of innovation, from pioneering fuel cell technology to contributing to the development of one of the world’s first Covid-19 vaccines. Emphasizing the critical role of research and development in sustaining a successful economy, the Ambassador highlighted Germany's position as one of the world’s top investors in R&D.

Germany's research and technology landscape, with approximately 400 research and innovation clusters and over 700,000 staff in R&D, offers diverse opportunities for collaboration. A total expenditure of over 113 billion EUR (2021) in R&D by government and private sector makes up 3.1% of Germany’s GDP.

With an audience focused on post-doctoral scholars, the seminar provided insights into the non-university research landscape in Germany, including institutions such as the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Helmholtz Association, and Leibniz Association. And it highlighted the potential for collaboration between Germany and UBD in the dynamic research landscape. UBD Vice Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle, Assistant Vice-Chancellors and Faculty and Staff of UBD graced the event with their presence.

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