On the 24th of September the UK was celebrated as the Country of Honour at China's Pujiang Innovation forum, an event led by China's Minister for Science and Technology, Wan Gang, and the UK's Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson.
As part of the event, a culmination of a week's bilateral events attended by the Uk's Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Mark Walport and around 150 representatives from the UK's Research Councils, National Space Academy Director Anu Ojha gave a keynote talk on the power of space to inspire and engage young people in science and engineering subjects.
The National Space Academy has been highlighted previously as a case study for the way that collaboration innovation between the UK and China can drive forward success for both countries in education and research.
As part of the outcomes sought by UK government the pathway has been cleared for an international memorandum of understanding to be signed between the National Space Academy and a consortium of Chinese partners who seek to use the Academy's methodologies to inspire and engage Chinese students in science and engineering.
The Pujiang Innovation Forum highlighted many other partnerships between the UK and China in science and technology research, including agreements between the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and new and existing relationships between UK universities and Chinese education authorities. It was an honour for the National Space Academy to be included in such an event, showing recognition not only for the Academy's one-off programmes in China so far but also for the Academy's ongoing work in the UK and its unique position at the nexus of two key areas of globally recognised UK expertise: space and education.
The memorandum of understanding between Chinese partners and the National Space Academy will allow the Academy to broaden its offer in China, with any commercial offers in China being used to generate revenue to support the Academy's programmes in the UK.
Read more about the ministerial visit and the organisations and individuals attending here.