Multilateral Engagement Working Group

One of the primary objectives of the GRC is to actively facilitate and promote bilateral and multilateral collaboration among participant organisations, with the aim of supporting the global science enterprise, fostering the worldwide research community, and effectively addressing global challenges.

The Multilateral Engagement Working Group (MLE-WG) was created as a result from the broad interest of GRC participants for a stronger multilateral engagement, and has the following objectives:

1. map the landscape of available multilateral funding mechanisms/programmes globally;
2. scope possible roles for the GRC in facilitating multilateral engagement; and
3. develop options for respective implementation and a roadmap for multilateral collaboration.

Background

At the 10^th GRC Annual Meeting in Panama, a side-event brought together approximately 60 participants from 35 countries/organisations to discuss the need for multilateral funding endeavours. The participants emphasised the importance of effective multilateral research funding taking a necessarily broader perspective on global crises/challenges. The participants explored general mechanisms and tools for multilateral funding in scientific research, addressing challenges and collecting ideas for the GRC to potentially advocate for, facilitate, or develop its own mechanisms and tools for multilateral engagement.

Based on these preliminary results, the GRC Governing Board mandated the organisers of the side event to outline options for a continued and goal-oriented discussion towards scoping and implementing possible roles for the GRC in facilitating multilateral engagement.

The GRC Multilateral Engagement Working Group (MLE-WG) was officially established in 1 June 2023 during the 11^th GRC Annual Meeting held in The Hague. The working group can be contacted through its secretariat at grc@dfg.de

Current members are: