Hanover/Lüneburg/Edinburgh, 21st November 2025
The European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS), recently relocated to the International Center of Leuphana University Lüneburg (Leuphana), is being developed into a central hub for scientific cooperation between Lower Saxony and Scotland. This transformation is supported by funding from zukunft.niedersachsen, the joint funding programme of the Lower Saxonian Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation.
Lower Saxony’s Minister of Science Falko Mohrs emphasises: “Scotland is one of the most important partners for science in Lower Saxony. As the coordinator of this cooperation in research, mobility and knowledge transfer, ECAS plays an important role. By developing it into the central hub of Lower Saxonian–Scottish scientific cooperation, we are creating a strong, future-oriented platform for knowledge exchange and innovation across national borders. In doing so, we are not only strengthening Lower Saxony’s visibility in the international scientific landscape, but also promoting joint solutions to the major challenges of our time.”
The aim is to strengthen the transregional scientific community in the long term and to promote sustainable cooperation between higher education institutions in both regions.
The further development of ECAS is also based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Lower Saxonian State Rectors’ Conference (LHK) and Universities Scotland (US), which was renewed in 2024 and defines the energy transition, life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation, and security (policy) as thematic priorities for cooperation. The deepening of relations receives a particular boost from the jointly initiated Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme, a funding initiative of the MWK, the Volkswagen Foundation and the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). ECAS supports this initiative in close coordination with the participating partners and thus assumes a central coordination and communication role within the evolving scientific community.
New Governance Structure and Strategic Management
As part of the funding, a new governance structure will be established to ensure equal representation of all universities in Lower Saxony.
A Steering Committee – consisting of LHK chair Prof. Dr. Susanne Menzel-Riedel (University of Osnabrück), spokeswoman for the LHK’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel (Braunschweig University of Technology), and ECAS Academic Director Prof. Dr. Markus Reihlen (Leuphana) – will be responsible for the strategic management.
Angela Ittel is very much looking forward to working on the ECAS Steering Committee: “Together with our partners from Scotland, we want to initiate new activities in the coming years, further deepen the exchange between Lower Saxony and Scotland, and provide innovative impetus for education, science and international cooperation. Deep, structured cross-border measures can make a decisive contribution to the resilience of both research locations and ultimately also protect our democracy and academic freedom.”
Susanne Menzel-Riedel adds: “ECAS shows how international scientific relations can be systematically structured to strengthen research, teaching and the promotion of young talent in the long term. What is particularly exciting is that both regions not only learn from each other, but also develop joint responses to socially relevant issues.”
Continuity and Expansion of Joint Formats
The popular Lower Saxony – Scotland Joint Forum remains at the heart of bilateral cooperation. Since 2020, the two-day networking event has provided university members from both regions with a platform for exchange, project development and new partnerships.
Following the Jubilee Edition in 2024 at Leuphana, the Joint Forum will take place in Scotland for the first time in 2025 at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Discussion panels, thematic workshops and project presentations are planned to promote exchange on current research issues and societal challenges.
Further information and the registration link can be found here: https://ecas-academia.org/joint-forum/.
Scientific Cooperation with Vision
With funding from zukunft.niedersachsen, ECAS is becoming a forward-looking, stable and visible hub for scientific cooperation between Lower Saxony and Scotland.
Markus Reihlen highlights: “The Centre strengthens the exchange of knowledge, ideas and people – and thus makes a lasting contribution to the international visibility and innovative capacity of both scientific regions. We are delighted to be able to actively shape this development with Leuphana as the host of ECAS and in close cooperation with the Lower Saxony State University Conference.”
Previous
