International Research Partnerships

    Why does a cancer patient painting in art therapy show measurable improvements in immune function? The intersection of arts and health represents one of the most fascinating frontiers in research today, and one of the most challenging to study. How do you capture the moment when a stroke survivor's musical improvisation rewires their neural networks? Or measure the community-level health impacts of a neighborhood mural project? The complexity challenge: Arts-based health interventions operate across multiple systems simultaneously. A dance therapy session for people with Parkinson's isn't just physical exercise, it's social connection, creative expression, cognitive challenge, emotional processing, and neuroplasticity training – all happening at once. Traditional research methods, designed for simpler interventions, struggle to capture this multidimensional reality. We need approaches that can handle the irreducible complexity of experiences that resist being broken down into component parts. A violin lesson for someone recovering from trauma isn't just "music" plus "therapy", it's an emergent phenomenon that transcends either category alone. Breaking down silos: The most innovative work is happening at the intersections: neuroscientists collaborating with theater directors, public health researchers working alongside poets, bioengineers learning from dancers. These collaborations aren't just nice to have, they're essential for understanding interventions that operate across biological, psychological, social, and cultural systems. Why this matters now: We're facing a loneliness epidemic that rivals smoking as a health risk. Healthcare costs are unsustainable. Many communities lack access to traditional mental health services. Meanwhile, arts-based interventions often reach populations that conventional medicine doesn't, providing culturally relevant, community-centered approaches to wellness. But to scale these interventions and integrate them into healthcare systems, we need rigorous evidence that speaks multiple languages, from molecular biology to community organizing, from health economics to aesthetic theory. The opportunity: iScience is launching a special issue on "Transdisciplinary Approaches to Arts and Health," seeking research that bridges these traditional boundaries. Whether you're studying the epigenetics of creativity, the sociology of healing spaces, the neuroscience of aesthetic experience, or the economics of cultural interventions, this is a chance to contribute to a more integrated understanding of how arts shape health. I am privileged to be part of a stellar group of co-editors from whom I have learnt, and keep learning, so much: Agustin Ibanez Nisha Sajnani, PhD RDT-BCT Jill Sonke Dominic Campbell Elisabeth Bahr. The submission deadline is August 30, 2026. Full details here: https://lnkd.in/d5MGbkJC

Don't go it alone - collaborate to deliver global impact with your research! Delighted to share findings from our newly published pilot-scale study on CO₂ capture heat integration. It's exciting not only because of new approach to reducing the reboiler duty by 6% and cooling duty by 24%, resulting in operating cost savings of CO2 capture. It's exciting because it proves that collaboration is essential for credible, impactful research. Our team brought together multi-institutional expertise, industrial partners, and real-world site access on a coal-fired power plant. This work was possible because this collaboration enabled: - Access to infrastructure - Operating a mobile pilot on a live power plant requires partnerships beyond any single lab. - Data rigour - Validating marginal energy gains demanded cross-disciplinary expertise, including thermodynamics, advanced data reconciliation, and process engineering. - Industrial validation - Co-developing with site operators built credibility and practical insight from day one. - Diverse expertise - Chemistry + engineering + simulation + field operations. Individual researchers miss insights that teams can easily identify. The lesson: Impact = great ideas + rigorous execution + real-world validation. Collaboration is how you deliver all three. If you're pursuing energy research with genuine traction, treat collaboration as a core strategy, not optional. Build networks early. Your best work will come from teams you haven't yet assembled. #science #research #scientist #researcher #professor #phd #CCUS #engineering

The West looks at Albania as a future EU member. The UAE sees it as a present-day strategic partner. HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, conducted a state visit to Tirana and held high-level talks with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. While diplomatic in form, this meeting was economic in function and transformational in consequence. Why This Meeting Matters Albania is one of Europe’s most overlooked gateways for trade, investment, and strategic influence: • GDP: $22.5B (2023), with 3.6% growth forecast for 2025 • FDI Inflows: $1.3B in 2023 (UNCTAD) • Tourism: 10.1M visitors in 2023 up 35% YoY (INSTAT) • Status: NATO member, EU candidate, and entry point to a 35M+ Balkan market For the UAE, Albania provides critical access to: • European energy diversification • Central European logistics routes • High-growth tourism and real estate zones • Food security and agritech partnerships • Regional diplomacy and peacebuilding platforms The Industries in Focus 1. Renewable Energy • Albania relies heavily on hydropower but lacks energy diversity. • Masdar is exploring solar and wind projects to stabilize supply and align with EU goals. • Potential for regional transmission links with neighboring Balkan countries. 2. Tourism & Hospitality • Vlorë and Sarandë present strong potential for luxury tourism. • Emaar is assessing high-end coastal developments. • Visitor numbers projected to exceed 12 million by 2026. 3. Infrastructure & Trade Logistics • DP World in talks to upgrade Durrës Port. • Plans underway for a logistics corridor into the Balkans. • Customs and tax reforms under negotiation. 4. Healthcare & Digital Health • Mubadala Health and UAE startups piloting digital clinics and diagnostics. • Albania positioned as a testbed for regional health innovation. 5. Food Security & Agritech • ADQ evaluating Albania’s potential for food security partnerships. • Focus areas include storage, irrigation, and agricultural exports. 6. Education & Human Capital • MoUs in development for training, Arabic education, and research collaboration. • Khalifa University and MBZUAI (Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence) expected to lead key initiatives. Key Outcomes of the UAE & Albania Visit 1. FDI: $200M → $500M+ by 2028 2. Trade: Tripling to $200M+ via new agreements 3. Institutions: ADFD grants, exchanges, councils underway 4. Recognition: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan awarded Albania’s top honor By 2028, This Partnership Will Deliver: • $500M+ in UAE FDI • 3x growth in trade volume • 3,000+ new jobs in key sectors • 15+ joint ventures across public and private sectors • New UAE-backed institutions driving development and talent exchange This is not diplomacy for headlines. This is diplomacy for infrastructure. This is how the UAE extends influence through projects, partnerships, and purpose.

The already close relationship between the EU and Brazil has just been strengthened further 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇷 During my visit to Brazil, I signed the mutual adequacy decision between the EU and Brazil in the capital Brasilia, creating the world’s largest area for free and secure data flows, covering more than 670 million people. ↪️It means the EU and Brazil recognise that strong data protection is non-negotiable — and that our standards are aligned. When personal data crosses the Atlantic between the EU and Brazil - in either direction - people’s rights in relation to the protection of their personal data now travels with it. No dilution, and no compromise. ♦️For citizens, this delivers something rare in the digital age: clarity and trust. Personal data is protected whether it’s processed in Rome or São Paulo. People keep clear rights — including the right to access, correct, and challenge misuse. Data belongs to people. ♦️For businesses, this is a competitiveness boost. Legal certainty replaces legal friction. Red tape falls. Compliance becomes simpler. Seamless data flows between public authorities, researchers, companies, and citizens are now a reality — across both the public and private sectors. The international flow of data is the invisible oxygen of modern trade. And trade without trust doesn’t last. That’s why this decision comes at a pivotal moment for EU-Brazil relations, reinforcing deeper cooperation — including the EU-Mercosur Agreement. We are proving that high standards and open markets go hand in hand. This is a win-win for people and for the economy — and a clear signal to the world: protecting personal data is not a barrier to growth; it is the foundation of a sustainable digital economy. Brazil is a vital strategic partner for the EU, and this mutual adequacy decision is a further boost to the relationship. 🇪🇺 🤝 🇧🇷 Obrigado, Brazil. Our partnership is getting stronger. 🙏 My sincere thanks to Acting President Geraldo Alckmin and Waldemar Gonçalves, President of Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority. We are absolutely on the same team. I’d also like to thank my own team in DG JUST and their counterparts in Brazil’s Data Protection Authority for their hard work in achieving this milestone.

The India–EU trade agreement is not just another pact; it is a real inflection point. The EU is already India’s largest goods trading partner, with bilateral trade above $136 billion and Indian exports around $76 billion. When trade at that scale becomes easier through tariff reductions, it gives industries the confidence to plan long term. As geopolitical fragmentation reshapes global trade, access to a 27-nation bloc that accounts for about 25% of global GDP positions India as a credible alternative amid supply chain shifts. MSMEs in textiles, leather, marine products, and increasingly nutraceuticals can now integrate into European supply chains instead of competing at the margins. That is a meaningful step in strengthening India’s role in global value chains. For those of us in preventive healthcare, the gains go beyond export volumes. Europe’s science-led regulatory systems encourage stronger clinical validation, better traceability, and higher compliance standards in India. Over time, that builds consumer trust in nutraceuticals worldwide. Combined with Europe’s ageing population and focus on wellness, this creates a natural fit with India’s strengths in Ayurveda, nutrition science, and cost-efficient advanced manufacturing — helping India evolve from a supplier into a long-term global health partner. OmniActive Health Technologies The Economic Times #IndiaEUTradeDeal #Trade #IndiaEUFTA #IndiaEU

💡 Why networking is important for research projects and consortia? 💊 In our 10-year research project (now in year 6) and multi-country consortia (9 partners), we have a work package - Networking, which I am co-leading. The aim is to create an environment that enables knowledge sharing and fosters long-standing research partnerships. Our Networking initiative is two-fold: - Networking within the Network: focused on enhancing inter-institutional communication, organizing joint activities, and fostering knowledge sharing and partnerships among our consortium. - Networking outside the Network: collaborating with local and global research initiatives, experts, and communities to create visibility, reputation, and connectivity. Our activities include topic-specific symposia at the forefront conferences in the field; "coffee clubs" for junior-senior scientist exchange; writing of joint (expert) opinions and statements; joint funding applications and of course social gatherings. Often overlooked, networking activities are invaluable and deserve a spotlight. Honestly, I am grateful to the funding body for recognizing its significance as a separate work package and including the milestones to report on. Here's why: 🤝 Networking enables interdisciplinary approaches, breaking silos and enriching our research endeavors. 🔍 Networking provides a platform for researchers to exchange information, share insights, support each other, and stay updated on the latest developments in their respective fields. 🗺 Engaging with researchers worldwide broadens our horizons, fosters diversity in thinking, and elevates the global impact of our research. There are countless more benefits! Share your experiences and examples. P.S. We also have a Policy work package 😉 #Research #Networking #Collaboration #Innovation

Collaboration across disciplines sounds intuitive. In practice, it is anything but simple. A recent qualitative study examining how artists, scientists and technologists work together shows that interdisciplinary collaboration about navigating fundamentally different ways of thinking, creating and validating knowledge. Participants describe collaboration as a process of “de-disciplining” themselves. Established methods, norms and hierarchies need to be temporarily suspended to make room for alternative perspectives. This is where friction emerges. Scientists may prioritise rigour and reproducibility, artists ambiguity and exploration, technologists functionality and application. What makes collaboration work is not alignment, but negotiation. Shared understanding develops through iteration, translation and, often, discomfort. Trust becomes a central variable, not only between individuals but between epistemologies. The study also points to structural constraints. Institutional settings, funding models and evaluation criteria still favour disciplinary outputs. This creates a paradox where interdisciplinary work is encouraged rhetorically but remains difficult to sustain in practice. Authors: Zeynep Birsel, Ellen Loots, Lénia Marques

India–EU Free Trade Agreement: A Defining Leap in Global Economic Engagement India’s expanding engagement with the global economy has reached a decisive milestone with the conclusion of the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA)-one of India’s most comprehensive trade accords with a major economic bloc. The agreement reflects India’s growing confidence as a trusted, competitive, and resilient global trade partner, negotiating from a position of strength while safeguarding national interests. Announced at the 16th India-EU Summit by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and European Commission President, the FTA marks a new phase of mature and strategic global economic engagement between two of the world’s largest economies. What the Agreement Delivers- 🔹 Unprecedented Market Access with Preferential access for 99% of Indian exports to the EU USD 33 billion worth of exports to enter at zero customs duty - Export opportunities expected to expand by ₹6.41 lakh crore - Reduced non-tariff barriers and simplified customs procedures 🔹 Jobs & Inclusive Growth - Strong boost to labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, MSMEs Large-scale employment generation for women, artisans, youth, and small enterprises 🔹 Services, Mobility & Future Sectors - Predictable access to 144 EU services subsectors for Indian professionals, including IT, digital, finance, and professional services - Dedicated mobility framework for professionals, students, business travellers, and Dependents - Collaboration in AI, clean technology, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing 🔹 Strategic Safeguards Phased liberalisation in automobiles Protection for sensitive agricultural sectors - Cooperation on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Gujarat at the Core of the Opportunity As India’s leading export state, Gujarat stands among the biggest beneficiaries of the FTA: Surat:- textiles, apparel, gems and jewellery Bharuch & Vadodara:- chemicals and pharmaceuticals with deeper EU supply-chain integration Rajkot:- engineering goods, auto components, electronics Coastal districts:- marine products and seafood exports supporting fishing livelihoods Statewide gains for MSMEs, minerals, and electronics through smoother trade facilitation Beyond Trade The India–EU FTA goes beyond tariffs. It reflects a convergence of democratic values, sustainability priorities, and long-term strategic trust. Along with FTAs with the UK and EFTA, it effectively opens the entire European market to Indian enterprises—large and small. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the agreement lays the foundation for inclusive, resilient, and future-ready growth-transforming global partnerships into shared prosperity.

The 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮–𝗘𝗨 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 is the topic everyone is discussing at the moment — and rightfully so. Its potential impact goes far beyond tariffs; it is about shaping the future framework of economic cooperation between two major global partners.   From my perspective, three aspects stand out.   First, the #FTA represents an opportunity to create greater predictability and trust for businesses on both sides. Clearer rules, improved market access, and aligned standards can significantly strengthen long-term investment decisions.   Second, the agreement can act as a catalyst for deeper industrial collaboration — particularly in manufacturing, technology, sustainability, and innovation-driven sectors where India and Europe, including Germany, complement each other well.   Third, and importantly, the ongoing dialogue itself is a positive signal. The willingness of both sides to engage openly reflects the maturity of the India–EU partnership and its shared ambition to expand economic ties in a rapidly changing global environment.   Press Release: Press Information Bureau, Government of India - https://lnkd.in/dfXG7Rkp   As discussions continue, it will be crucial to keep the business perspective at the centre — ensuring that the agreement supports growth, competitiveness, and resilient supply chains.   At IGCC, we closely follow these developments and remain committed to supporting our members as this important process moves forward. Ministry of External Affairs, India | Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India #IndiaEUFTA #IndoGermanRelations #GlobalTrade #EconomicCooperation #IGCC

Prioritizing partnership over isolation: This is why the free trade agreement between the EU and India is a landmark achievement. It is the message the global economy needs right now: The EU is making its mark as a capable and decisive actor—and, most importantly, a reliable trading partner on the world stage. By bridging two of the world’s major economic and democratic powers, India and the EU are creating a free trade zone encompassing two billion people. A necessary step toward stability in an increasingly fragmented trade environment! India is one of the world’s most dynamic growth markets. The mutual reduction of tariffs and the harmonization of trade standards will do more than just lower costs. It will greatly strengthen the resilience of global supply chains. DACHSER is well-positioned to support this economic shift. Closely linked to our strong European setup, the nearly 400 colleagues at our nine branches in India make sure that businesses can leverage the potential of this historic agreement with door-to-door logistics solutions. Recent trade developments—potential new hurdles for Mercosur and the success with India—underscore a fundamental truth: A proactive and unified European trade policy is not a given, but it is essential for our global competitiveness.