Expanding international cooperation is a key step in achieving research excellence, competitiveness and scientific outreach. This is even more relevant to Ignaz Semmelweis Institute (ISI) due to its focus on infectious disease research, which is a global issue.
Recently, Subhra K. Biswas one of the five professors of the ISI and a part of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Graz (MUG), visited Singapore on a delegation led by Prof. Andrea Kurz, Rector, MUG and Prof. Christian Wadsack, Head of the Excellence Development and Internationalisation Organisational Unit, MUG1. The delegation visited key research and educational institutions in Singapore, which has emerged as a major hub in biomedical research.
The visit included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MUG and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), by Prof Andrea Kurz and Prof Lam Kong Peng (Executive Director, A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network). The event was witnessed by Dr. Lisa Ooi (Assistant Chief Executive, Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR) and Mr. Peter Storer (H.E. Ambassador of Austria to Singapore)2, 3 as it coincides with the 60 years of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Austria. The MoU provides a framework for further collaborations, exchange of researchers and the development of joint research activities in selected areas.
The delegation also visited other renowned institutions in Singapore, including the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and the Duke-NUS Medical School. In the course of the visit, Prof. Biswas introduced ISI to these institutions and also held initial discussions with the heads of the infectious disease programmes to explore how collaborations and exchange could be facilitated in the area of infection research. Further discussion on joint PhD activities, exchange opportunities for young researchers, visits by scientists from both sides and the possibilities of joint research proposals are being planned.
To keep this interaction going, ISI has been hosting well-known infectious disease researchers from Singapore for the ISI lectures, time-to-time.
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