With the United Kingdom's recent association with Horizon Europe, Imperial College London is forging stronger ties with leading universities, collaborators, and policymakers in Denmark and Sweden. A series of strategic meetings and events were held to explore future research collaborations aimed at tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges.
Expanding Collaborations in Key Sectors
Recognizing Denmark and Sweden's excellence in the life sciences sector, Imperial is eager to expand partnerships not only in this field but also in energy transition, quantum science, engineering biology, and biotechnology. These areas align with key UK research priorities and offer vast potential for innovative breakthroughs.
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, emphasized the critical nature of these collaborations:
"The world is grappling with significant challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and sustainability. Our association with Horizon Europe empowers us to build robust alliances that can lead to world-changing outcomes. By uniting Imperial's top scientists with European partners, we can drive new discoveries, spark innovative technologies, and positively shape our global future."
Denmark: A Convergence of Science and Global Impact
In Copenhagen, Imperial hosted a special event at the British Embassy focused on "Convergence Science for Global Impact." Co-hosted by President Brady and British Ambassador to Denmark Emma Hopkins, the gathering brought together renowned scientists, industry leaders, policymakers, alumni, and supporters to discuss collaborative solutions to global issues.
Professor Mary Ryan, Imperial’s Vice-Provost for Research and Enterprise, led a panel discussion on how UK-Denmark scientific cooperation is fostering emerging technologies in health, sustainability, and resilience. Panelists included:
- Professor Neil Ferguson: Director of Imperial’s School of Public Health and a leading epidemiologist.
- Professor Karen Polizzi: An expert in biotechnology.
- Professor Nicholas Jackson: Executive Director and CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Vaccines and Immunity.
- Professor Samir Bhatt: Professor of Machine Learning and Public Health at the University of Copenhagen and Professor of Statistics and Public Health at Imperial.
Ambassador Emma Hopkins highlighted the strengthening scientific ties between the UK and Denmark:
"Science and technology are increasingly pivotal in our relationship with Denmark. Our research communities have a history of close collaboration, and there's a strong mutual interest in deepening these connections. With the UK now formally associated with Horizon Europe, we have a prime opportunity to rekindle existing partnerships and forge new ones."
Sweden: Building on a Foundation of Collaboration
Imperial's relationship with Sweden is longstanding, with active collaborations involving Lund University, Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University, the University of Gothenburg, and Umeå University, among others. President Brady visited Lund University to discuss future joint initiatives and to build upon existing projects funded through Horizon Europe.
One notable collaboration is the newly launched iSpy Network (Immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes), a consortium of 28 investigators from 11 countries. This network aims to deepen the understanding of the immune response to Strep A, the bacterial cause of sepsis and heart damage in children, and to develop effective vaccination strategies.
Reflecting on the enhanced opportunities with Swedish partners, President Brady stated:
"Our association with Horizon Europe positions us to reinforce our strong alliances with Sweden's world-class universities. The ambition behind initiatives like Lund University's Science Village resonates with our own White City Deep Tech Campus—a hub for convergence science and innovation."
Imperial currently has 29 Horizon Europe collaborations with Swedish institutions, tackling areas such as cancer research, public health, health technology, green transition, and the circular economy.
Investing in the Future: Horizon Europe Connect Fund
As part of its commitment to fostering European partnerships, Imperial launched the Horizon Europe Connect Fund earlier this year. This initiative provides additional support for Imperial’s academics to apply for and secure grants from Horizon Europe, enhancing the university's capacity to contribute to and benefit from this prestigious funding program.
A Royal Endorsement
Highlighting the significance of Imperial's innovative environment, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden visited the White City Deep Tech Campus last year. They toured cutting-edge research facilities and met with leaders and academics to learn about the university's vision for the campus and its role in addressing global challenges.
Looking Ahead: A Unified Effort for Global Solutions
The visits to Denmark and Sweden are part of Imperial's broader strategy to deepen European partnerships post-Horizon Europe association. By strengthening these connections, Imperial aims to co-develop research proposals and ideas that address critical issues such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and sustainability.
Emma Hopkins captured the spirit of this unified effort:
"With our renewed ties through Horizon Europe, there's an exceptional opportunity to deepen scientific collaboration between the UK and Denmark—and indeed, all of Europe. These efforts are concrete steps toward that goal, fostering relationships that will drive innovation and address the challenges we all face."
Through these strengthened partnerships, Imperial College London is not only reinforcing its commitment to excellence in research and innovation but also contributing to a collaborative European effort to find solutions to global challenges. By pooling resources, expertise, and visionary thinking, these alliances hold the promise of breakthroughs that could benefit societies worldwide.