In the framework of the upcoming FENS Forum 2020, EBC will co-organize a series of activities within Forum on the topic of Global Research Collaboration, highlighting the existing partnerships within research—specifically, brain research—in the European Union, the United States and Asian countries such as China, South Korea, Japan and possibly others.

The Special Interest Event will fall on 13 July, from 9:30-10:30 GMT. It will focus on highlighting the existing partnerships within research—specifically, brain research—in the European Union, the United States and Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Japan.

Furthermore, the event will explore and showcase existing global collaboration as well as the potentials for continued expansion and how global research collaboration can support brain research. Various initiatives aimed at reinforcing global research collaboration, including in the brain research space, have been launched in recent years. The International Brain Initiative (IBI), which brings together the major “brain initiatives” across the globe, was launched with the ambitious aim of progressing ethical neuroscience research through international cooperation and knowledge sharing. The EBC-led Horizon 2020 project establishing a European Brain Research Area (EBRA) aims to reduce fragmentation in brain research and foster synergies through enhanced coordination of brain research efforts at the EU and global levels. In order to foster alignment and better co-ordination of research strategies across the European brain initiatives, a Shared European Brain Research Agenda (SEBRA) will be developed under the EBRA project. The SEBRA will focus on research opportunities and research and innovation gaps to be addressed in the field, priorities for action in the short and long term and research areas that would benefit most from cross – initiatives cooperation. It is through meetings/events such as this one that EBC and EBRA hope to feed into the formation and definition of global cooperation and initiatives with the potential of feeding into a SEBRA. Furthermore, the EU has launched several Scientific and Technical (S&T) agreements with countries across the globe that provide frameworks for robust research cooperation and enable the development of strategies for enhancing collaboration in a wide range of areas.

Chaired by EBC President, Prof. Monica Di Luca, the session will include presentations from Prof. Tracy Bale, President of the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) and Prof. Mohamed Hassan, President of the World Academy of Sciences as well as pre-recorded video messages on the importance of continued international collaboration in brain research from top country representatives, including EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel; US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Director, Dr Walter J. Koroshetz; Society for Neuroscience (SfN) President, Prof Barry Everitt; FENS President, Prof Carmen Sandi and more.

These will be followed by a live panel discussion and Q&A, featuring