Lower Saxony – Scotland
Joint Forum 2026
Get ready for two days of bold ideas, sharp minds, and meaningful transregional collaboration. The European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS) invites you to the 7th Lower Saxony–Scotland Joint Forum – where research excellence meets strategic partnership.
For years, the Joint Forum has brought together higher education institutions, research organisations, policymakers, and innovation leaders from both regions. This year’s edition at Technische Universität Braunschweig returns to the Forum’s original spirit: a place of encounter, dialogue, and forward-looking cooperation.
Day 1 opens with a panel discussion on “A Lower Saxony–Scotland Perspective on Science and Universities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, followed by interactive workshops and an official reception.
Day 2 focuses on the Lower Saxony – Research and Innovation Scheme. Awardees will present their projects, share insights, and offer practical advice for prospective applicants. Additional workshop sessions will also be available.
Interested in shaping the programme? Explore the Open Call for Workshop Proposals and apply by 21 June 2026.
Open Call for Workshop Proposals
Please use the following template for the preparation of your workshop: (Template)
Information Sessions - Open Call for workshops
Interested in submitting a workshop proposal for the Joint Forum 2026?
Join one of our online information sessions to learn more about the Open Call and the application process.
Further details are available in the full information document (PDF).
Session 1
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 10:00 CEST
Join via Zoom
Session 2
Monday, 8 June 2026, 10:00 CEST
Join via Zoom
Why attend?
Network
Connect with academics, staff and students from renowned higher education institutions, politicians and experts from industry in both regions.
Collaborate
Explore avenues for interdisciplinary cooperation and initiate research partnerships.
Learn
Gain insights from experts, discover innovative projects, and expand your knowledge horizon.
Engage
Participate in discussions, exchange ideas, and be part of shaping the future of academia.
Register now
Please register below for this year’s Joint Forum, taking place on Thursday, 19 November + Friday, 20 November 2026 at the Technische Universität Braunschweig.
Participation is free of charge. Registration is open until Sunday, 1 November 2026.
About
The Joint Forum is an annual, two-day networking event organised by the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS) together with a partner higher education institution in Lower Saxony or Scotland. Acting as a cooperation hub, ECAS connects stakeholders from academia, policy, and innovation to foster sustained exchange between both regions.
Hosted alternately in Lower Saxony and Scotland, the Forum provides a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the development of new collaborative initiatives. In 2025, the Joint Forum took place at the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) in the context of the partnership between the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK), the Volkswagen Foundation, and the RSE, alongside their joint Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme. The 2026 edition will be hosted at Technische Universität Braunschweig.
With over 100 participants each year, the Joint Forum supports both the strengthening of existing partnerships and the creation of new ones.
Venue
The Technische Universität Braunschweig is one of Germany’s leading technical universities and a member of the TU Alliance. Situated in the heart of Europe’s most research-intensive region, it pursues solutions to tomorrow’s challenges in interdisciplinary, cross-faculty research centers. Its activities are organized around four core research priorities: Mobility, Metrology, Engineering for Health, and the City of the Future.
TU Braunschweig benefits from an outstanding ecosystem that brings together universities, federal research centers, Helmholtz Institutes, Fraunhofer Institutes, Leibniz Association research institutions, museums, libraries, and even a research airport. This environment offers rich interdisciplinary research and networking opportunities for both researchers and students. Its internationally oriented degree programs are characterized by strong practical relevance through research projects, excellent networking, and active technology transfer.
