The UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Italian National Research Council (CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche) signed an agreement today to strengthen scholarly, scientific and technological co-operation between the two countries.

The agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Rome this morning by CNR President Professor Luciano Maiani and AHRC Chief Executive Professor Philip Esler, will develop co-operative research activities in the Arts & Humanities, and Science and Technology for the protection of cultural heritage.

The agreement builds on a foundation of strong co-operation between the two countries, including joint projects such as Net Heritage, led by Italy’s Ministry of Culture (MIBAC), which is attempting to coordinate national RTD programmes of European countries in the field of research applied to the Protection for Tangible Cultural Heritage. 

Joint projects, academic events, exchange of researchers and research data, and mutual access to and dissemination of research resources are among the other benefits the MoU will deliver.

Professor Philip Esler welcomed the agreement, saying: ‘Our two research communities are facing many of the same challenges, and cooperation between our two countries can only help address these. The AHRC is delighted to be entering into an agreement that we hope will bring significant benefits to researchers in both our countries.’

ENDS
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Notes to the editor
Arts & Humanities Research Council: Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from archaeology and English literature to design and dance. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,000 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Arts and humanities researchers constitute nearly a quarter of all research-active staff in the higher education sector. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK. www.ahrc.ac.uk

The Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) is a national public body with the task to perform, promote, disseminate, transfer and promote research in key areas of development of knowledge and their applications for the scientific, technological, economic and social benefit of Italy.