BCCG Newsletter
Together with the British Chamber of Commerce Germany, we publish a newsletter in which we report on current and important topics as well as activities between Germany and the United Kingdom.
The political events surrounding the EU's negotiations with the UK continue to have a lasting impact on the economic relations between the two countries. Our concern is factual and as fact-based information as possible
Newsletter 11 April 2024
A quantum leap is the new partnership for cooperation between science and research, which was signed in a joint declaration of intent by UK's Michele Donolan and Germany's Bettina Stark-Watzinger. Leading science organisations from the UK and Germany will increasingly look for joint opportunities in AI, quantum technology, clean technology, etc. Germany is the UK's second largest research partner in the world.
The trade agreement (CPTPP) has now received the Royal Consent of Parliament, an important step towards joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership later this year. With the UK as a member, CPTPP will account for 15% of global GDP, which would boost growth and wages in the UK.
The Science and Technology Venture Capital Fellowship is a career program for investment professionals with a focus on science and technology. The scholarship is the first of its kind for ambitious mid-career investment professionals in the UK with a strong interest in science and technology. The DSIT will collaborate with partners from industry, philanthropy and the investment community to commercialise and scale the UK's R&D base.
Newsletter 07 March 2024
Digital Product Labeling
The UK government has introduced new legislation to introduce digital labelling for UK businesses. The recognition of the CE marking for products such as toys and machinery has been extended indefinitely. The reforms towards digital labelling made possible by the withdrawal ensure that the UK's regulatory requirements are adapted to the modern world
Skills for Live
Skills for live is a skills initiative of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology to develop and promote digital skills for all UK residents over the age of 19. In special skills bootcamps, knowledge in software development, data analytics, cyber security, cloud computing and web development is imparted in courses lasting several weeks. Individual courses are certified.
Frontex-EU
As a further step forward within the Windsor Framework, Frontex, as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and the UK Home Office have signed a memorandum of understanding to pave the way for close cooperation in the areas of border management and security. The aim is to exchange information, insights, situational awareness and risk analysis (also within the framework of EUROSUR)
Newsletter 08 February 2024
Cyber Dialogue
The first Cyber Dialogue Dialogue under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement took place in Brussels in December 2023. Cyber topics such as international security, new technologies, internet governance, cybersecurity, cyber defense and cybercrime were discussed.
Stormont Brake
The Stormont Brake, as an essential part of the Windsor Framework, can now take action now that the DUP has accepted the UK government's offer and the Northern Ireland Assembly (Stormont) is complete again. With Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill as First Minister and DUP's Emme Little-Pengelly as Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland once again has a quorum under the Good Friday Agreement.
3. Innovate UK – ZIM
Innovate UK and the ZIM initiative of the German BMWK open the 3rd round of the competition for the promotion of joint German-British R & D projects. Small and medium-sized companies from both countries can apply to participate until 3 June, and funding of up to £750,000 is possible.
Newsletter 07 January 2024
Concierge
To boost foreign direct investment (+100mGBP) in key sectors – green industry, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, digital technologies and creative industries – the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has announced a “concierge service” at the Office for Investment (OfI) for large international investors. The initiator is the Harrington Review.
Tariffs for electric vehicles & batteries
As part of the EU-UK Partnership Council, the UK and EU have agreed to extend trading rules for electric vehicles and batteries once until the end of 2026 to keep costs down for manufacturers and consumers. This means that the existing rules of origin will apply for another three years until the end of 2026.
CBAM UK
The UK has committed to introducing a new carbon import pricing mechanism by 2027 to support decarbonisation efforts under the CBAM. These plans are intended to reflect EU regulations.
Deep Tech Report
The Royal Academy of Engineering's first report has released a detailed Deep Tech Report on the status of the national deep tech ecosystem for the first time. The detailed analysis provides insights across regional, sector and financial aspects and reveals that only 7.5% of UK deep tech companies were founded by all-female teams.
Newsletter 07 Dezember 2023
AI Safety-Summit
The highlight of the AI Safety Summit was the inauguration of the AI Safety Institute as the first government-funded organization to focus on advanced AI safety in the public interest. The goal is to act preventively for the community against unintended AI effects and to minimize rapid and unexpected advances in AI. It is about developing socio-technical infrastructure to understand the risks of advanced AI and enable its management.
Finance for Industry
The government has announced £4.5 billion in funding for UK industry to boost investment in 8 manufacturing sectors in the UK. The funding will be available for five years from 2025 as longer-term investment security for automotive, aerospace, life sciences, clean energy, carbon capture, use and storage, power grids, hydrogen, nuclear power and offshore wind power.
Fossil-Free-Flight
A trans-Atlantic flight of a Boeing 787 from London to New York without the use of fossil fuels is a world first with 100% SAF from a commercial airline. Virgin Atlantic's consortium with Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, ICF and Rocky Mountain Institute, among others, in collaboration with the UK Department for Transport, has made this possible.
Newsletter 09 November 2023
Oneweb
Oneweb, the LEO satellite operator in the UK, and Eutelsat, the world's third largest GEO satellite operator, have entered into a merger in France to become Eutelsat's Oneweb Group. The Group will operate its HQ's in London and Paris and will become the only GEO-LEO operator in satellite communications in Europe that can offer a connectivity service for industry and residential.
North Sea Exploration
The UK's North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has completed its 29th round with the award of 27 licences out of 115 applications for the exploration of oil, gas including CCS in the North Sea. Successful bidders include Shell, Equinor, DNO, Aker BP, Ithaca, TotalEnergies and BP. The aim is to secure all energy options nationally in the long term.
Online Safety
The Online Safety Bill gets the Royal Assent in Parliament and enacts rules that will make the UK a global leader in safeguarding online activities. The law ensures that social media companies make the internet safe for children and give adults more choice in what they watch online. Office for Communications (Ofcom) will begin implementation immediately.
Newsletter 05. Oktober 2023
Bilateral Research Fundin
The 2nd round of development for the UK-Germany bilateral research project opens on 4 September and organisations registered in the UK can apply for a share of up to £4 million for projects. The prerequisite is cooperation with German SMEs that apply within the framework of the corresponding German ZIM programme. Registration deadline Wednesday 6 December 2023
AI Safety Summit
At the historic site of Bletchley Park, the global AI Safety Summit on November 1 & 2 will discuss future aspects, applications, capabilities and acceleration of AI investments, as well as the enormous opportunities for productivity and the common good. The emergence of models with increasingly generalized capabilities offers the prospect of growth of up to $7 trillion over the next decade, as well as significantly faster drug discovery.
Hydrogen MoU
The UK and Germany reach agreement to accelerate the development of an international hydrogen industry. At the UK Embassy in Berlin, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan and State Secretary for Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany Philip Nimmermann sign a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen international trade in hydrogen.
Newsletter 07 September 2023
Electronic Trade
Der Electronic Trade Documents Act ist Gesetz geworden, wodurch elektronische Handelsdokumente den gleiche Rechtsstatus wie physische Handelsdokumente erhalten. Dadurch wird im nächsten Jahrzehnt ein Mehrwert von über 1 Milliarde Pfund für britische Unternehmen und ihre globalen Geschäftspartner bei entsprechenden Kosteneinsparungen erwartet.
Border Target Operating Model
Das Border Target Operating Model legt einen neuen Ansatz für Sicherheitskontrollen (gilt für alle Importe) sowie Gesundheits- und Pflanzenschutzkontrollen (gilt für Importe von lebenden Tieren, Tierprodukten, Pflanzen und Pflanzenerzeugnissen) an der Grenze fest. Darin werden einfachere digitale Kontrollen sowie die Ambitionen für das neue Single Trade Window im Vereinigten Königreich definiert.
Horizon für UK
Das Vereinigte Königreich wird wieder dem Wissenschaftsforschungsprogramm Horizon der Europäischen Union beitreten und damit eine zweijährige Pattsituation mit der Union um die Wissenschaftsfinanzierung beenden. Laut D10 geschah dies nachdem „verbesserte finanzielle Bedingungen der Partnerschaft“ erzielt wurden.
Newsletter 10 August 2023
Space Exploration Technology Roadmap
The new Space Exploration Technology Roadmap is the basis for the UK Space Agency in the selection of technology fields in which it can take on a leading role due to its strong positioning. The value of the global space economy is estimated to be about £490 billion by 2030 and $1 trillion by 2040
National Space Council
With the reconstitution of the National Space Council, space is once again at the top of the cabinet agenda, underscoring ambitions for the goal of becoming Europe's leading provider of small commercial launches by 2030. The UK's fast-growing space sector employs 49,000 people with an income of £17.5 billion.
Great British Nuclear
The new organization, Great British Nuclear, wants to push ahead with the rapid expansion of nuclear energy extensively and at high speed. To this end, it is launching a competition for innovative SMR (Small Modular Reactor) technology to stimulate billions of dollars in public and private sector investment in SMR projects. The goal is to provide secure and cost-effective energy for the economy and consumers.
Electronic Trade Documents Act
The Electronic Trade Documents Act has become law, giving electronic trade documents the same legal status as physical trade documents. This is expected to add over £1 billion over the next decade to UK companies and their global business partners, with corresponding cost savings.
CE marking for companies
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced a plan to extend the use of CE marking for companies indefinitely, taking into account 18 regulations of the DBT. After extensive coordination with the industry, UK companies can continue to use the CE marking alongside UKCA.
Tata Group announces the construction of a new battery factory
Tata Group announces a £4 billion investment to build a new battery factory for electric cars in the UK. This will create up to 4,000 new direct jobs and thousands more in the supply chain. The new gigafactory is expected to supply almost half of the battery production needed by 2030 and drive the UK's transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Newsletter July 13, 2023
Financial Services
The Windsor Framework paved the way for the Memorandum of Understanding for Financial Services, which Jeremy Hunt and Mairead McGuinness co-signed in Brussels on 27 June. The EU and the UK and the UK can now design the new level playing field for financial services. In doing so, the EU recognises the importance of the UK financial centre.
Biotech Cancer
Government signs agreement with BioNTech SE to care for up to 10,000 patients in NHS England's new Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad by 2030 and improve access to personalised treatments and clinical trials. BioNTech SE will establish laboratories and a regional hub to support the development of immunotherapies
Astra Carta
The Sustainable Markets Initiative launched the Astra Carta to shape the framework and ambition in the private sector for the next level of sustainability in space. The launch realises a vision for sustainability in space outlined by HM King Charles III in his previous role as Prince of Wales at the Space Sustainability Summit in 2022.
Cross Border Privacy Rules
The Global Cross Border Privacy Rules Forum (CBPR) has awarded the UK associate status as the first country in the world. The Global CBPR Forum was established with the 2022 Global CBPR Declaration. The Forum aims to support the free flow of data by providing an interoperable mechanism for effective data protection and privacy worldwide.
Newsletter June 15, 2023
UK to host first global AI summit
As the world grapples with the challenges and opportunities posed by the rapid progress of artificial intelligence, the UK will provide a platform to jointly develop an approach to mitigate these risks with the first major global summit on AI security in the autumn.
Life Science Booster
A £650 million funding programme to transform the life sciences is designed to bring new treatments to patients faster, improve protection against future health emergencies and increase the speed and accuracy of mental health diagnoses. One focus will be the development of a new bio-database.
National Semiconductor Strategy
As part of the National Semiconductor Strategy, the UK government is providing up to £200 million in 2023-25 and up to £1 billion over the next decade to develop quantum technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of telecommunications into the next-gen segments.
Newsletter Mai 11, 2023
Border Target Operating Modell
The future Border Target Operating Model was presented to the public as a draft. Before the import process goes live on 23 October, stakeholders have until 19 May to submit their comments.
Retained EU Law
The UK government plans to abolish the so-called Retained EU Laws (REUL) by the end of 2023. However, there are doubts as to whether this project can be implemented in the case of 4000 lawsfor reasons of time and personnel. It is currently being discussed to reduce the number to about 800 laws.
Space Port Cornwall
Space Port Cornwall has opened a new Space Systems Operations Facility (SSOF). Although not yet completely finished, it is already fully booked. It offers laboratories, office and hot desking for the space industry. Partnerships with Sierra Space, KISPE Space, University of Exeter, UK Space Agency, Virgin Orbit, Lacuna Space, Eden Project.
Newsletter April 13, 2023
First Minister for Scotland
Scotland has a new First Minister. The former Scottish Minister of Health Humza Yousaf will become chairman of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and thus the new head of government. He received 52.1 in the runoff and is also aiming for Scottish independence.
GEN Technology Act
The new Gene Technology Act became law on March 23rd by Royal Assent. It enables technologies to improve food security, reduce the use of pesticides and improve the climate resilience of plants
CPTPP
The UK will join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This free trade zone includes 11 countries in the Indo-Pacific region and includes more than 500 million people with an economic output of approximately 15% (GBP 11 billion) of global GDP.
Newsletter 09. March 2023
Scottish First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon is stepping down from her post in Scotland after 9 years as First Minister, the SNP has until the end of March to elect a new successor.
Windsor-Framework
Windsor Framework and Stormont Brake have the potential to put EU-UK relations on a new basis of trust and enable researchers from both sides to participate jointly in the Horizon programme. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is to be withdrawn.
Instadeep
BioNTech is launching clinical trials in the UK this year together with the AI platform Instadeep with the aim of reducing the earlier trial times for individual cancer vaccines from 3 to 6 months in the medium term toless than 4 weeks.
Newsletter 08 February 2023
National Express
National Express receives billion-euro order for Rhein-Ruhr-Express. UK-based National Express Group plc, through its German subsidiary, has been awarded a €1 billion contract to operate the RE1 and RE11 Rhine-Ruhr Express lines in Germany until 2033.
ARIA
The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), a new independent research institution to fund high-risk scientific research, was officially established. Transformative technologies through rapid funding of high-speed research and high prize money: this includes a £800m global super lab and a £39m public budget. Research
Milestone for startup loans
100,000 UK small businesses benefit from government-backed start-up loans. The start-up loan programme reaches the 100,000 milestone, with more than £941 million in support being given to small businesses.
Newsletter January 11, 2023
Satellite Space Launch
The UK Space Agency, together with Virgin Space, has made an attempt at Spaceport Cornwall to bring satellites into orbit above the earth with the help of an orbital launcher. Unfortunately, the satellite did not reach the required altitude. The next launch is planned in Scotland.
Energy costs for companies
The government will reduce support for businesses after warning that the current level of aid is too expensive. Under the new regime, businesses will receive a discount on wholesale prices based on their energy consumption, rather than capping costs as under the current regime.
Ultra Fan
Rolls-Royce has completed the build of its UltraFan® technology demonstrator for testing in the Testbed 80 and is preparing to test it. The UltraFan demonstrator has a 140 inch fan diameter with scalable technology for ~25,000 to 110,000 pounds of thrust and has the potential to further improve the fuel efficiency of narrowbody and widebody aircraft by up to 10 percent. Another approach should lead to large aircraft such as the B747 and A380 being able to fly with 2 engines instead of the previous 4. In the past there were regulations for flights over the sea. However, this regulation was changed as part of the technical development, so that now 2-engine machines are allowed to fly over sea.
Newsletter December 08, 2022
Good Friday Agreement (GFA)
During COP27, Rishi Sunak promised US President Jo Biden a solution to the NI Protocol on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the GFA. In order to gain time for the EU UK negotiations, a new deadline for the elections in Northern Ireland is being sought. The new last possible election date would be April 13th.
Impulses to the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
For the negotiations between the EU & UK, the Toni Blair Institute for Global Change has presented excerpts from a paper in which, among other things, new approaches to dispute settlement in connection with the European Court of Justice are proposed. Recently, the NI Minister of State Steve Baker also announced that he had in mind a solution for the NIP negotiations with the help of a paper.
Faraday Battery Challenge
Based on Faraday's discoveries of electromagnetic rotation and electromagnetic induction as the basis of today's electrical industry, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced a competition for research and innovation projects in battery technology. This project would have ended at the end of 2022 and has now been extended to 2025. The budget is £541 million. Partners: Innovate UK (Lead), UK Battery Industrialization Centre, Faraday Institution
BCCG Update 10. November 2022
New Prime Minister
The number 50 has taken on a new meaning in the United Kingdom. That's how long the shortest term of office of a prime minister in the UK lasted when Liz Truss passed from Liz Truss to her successor Rishi Sunak on 25 October.
As is well known, she won the PM Leadership Contest in the summer and then, as successor to Boris Johnson, proved a less than lucky hand in trying to implement an ambitious growth policy in view of the tense economic and energy situation. The presentation of the preliminary "mini-budget" by its Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng has led to strong reactions on the financial market. Even the replacement of Kwasi Kwarteng by her successor Jeremy Hunt could not prevent her resignation.
Within the Tory party, after her resignation announcement, they agreed within a week on Rishi Sunak as her successor, who was already her direct competitor in the summer contest.
For Rishi Sunak, the most important priorities are the stability of public finances and the control of the energy cost crisis. He has taken over the Ministers for Finance, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Northern Ireland from the Truss cabinet .
The EU has tacitly welcomed the fact that he has maintained continuity in the areas of foreign policy and Northern Ireland.
Election in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, introduced by Liz Truss , still stands as the "elephant in the room". In Northern Ireland, the deadline for the formation of an executive government expired on 28 October, without the responsible NI Minister Chris Heaton-Harris having given a date for a new election. Public opinion showed that there was no particular interest in the election. On the morning of November 4th, it was surprisingly announced that this year (before the holidays) there will be no more elections. Obviously, they want to gain time to present the new budget on 17 November and, at the same time, possibly to reach an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The silent hope is that the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords, can continue to be parked there.
Horizon consultations for EU R&D programs
The UK government started consultations with the European Commission on 22 September on UK participation in EU programs (Horizon Europa, Copernicus, Euratom Research and Training, Fusion for Energy) and program services (space surveillance and tracking). The EU continues to refuse.
Newsletter 07 October 2022
EU opens infringement proceedings against UK
Coinciding with the start of the UK Government's legislative process for the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, the EU began on 13 June with the reactivation of an infringement procedure dormant since September 2021 and announced the opening of further proceedings (2 plus 4). Among other things, it is about obligations under sanitary and phytosanitary regulations as well as to provide the EU with certain trade statistical data for Northern Ireland. The EU has tacitly taken note of the exceedances for UK re-registration deadlines.
New European Political Community with UK
In the short term, Prime Minister Liz Truss has decided to attend the meeting of the new group, which will take place for the first time this week in Prague. This is a new formation in Europe that can also include non-members of the EU. The initiative for this open group came from French President Emmanuel Macron. As the Czech Republic holds the Presidency of the Council for the second half of 2022, the venue is Prague. However, before the start of the meeting, other countries (UK and Moldova) have registered to host the next meeting. The UK's participation in this forum is expected to provide impetus for the ongoing Northern Ireland talks, especially since the legislative process for the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is taking place in the UK at the same time. It is interesting to note that, at the same time as this forum in Prague, talks between the EU and the UK on the Northern Ireland Protocol have resumed. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill should not be on the agenda of these talks; they are dedicated exclusively to technical processing and tasks. This seems to be due to the fact that the EU continues to oppose this bill.
September 2022 United Kingdom mini-budget
On 23rd September Lizz Truss and Finance Minister Kwasi Karteng presented a list of economic measures aimed at supporting private households in the face of rising energy costs and at the same time launching initiatives to strengthen the economy. This mini-budget has caused the British pound to fall and is controversially discussed. THE PM Liz Truss consistently defends this budget, but has made the first small changes.
Newsletter 06 September 2022
New Prime Minister for the UK
With a strong majority of 57%, the former Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party and thus the 56th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In your short inaugural speech after the announcement of the result, you thanked her team for organizing "one of the longest job interviews in history". She will receive her appointment as Prime Minister on Tuesday from Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral, Scotland.
Energy Conference
On the eve of the wind energy fair, the BCCG invites you to an exciting energy panel.
At the moment, those responsible for European energy policy are particularly concerned with two main topics: the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels, which represents both an economic and a political threat, and the simultaneous management of the global climate crisis.
Politicians are faced with enormous challenges and the list of questions to be clarified is long: How do we manage to structure our energy supply more independently? Can we accelerate the expansion of renewable energies? What do the current developments mean for competitive markets and to what extent do they influence the achievement of the climate targets set?
What the roadmap to an independent energy policy can look like and what this means for the energy industry and the consumer will be the topic of this year's tenth Energy Conference in Hamburg.
Support for students from the BCCG Foundation
Internships in the UK are very popular with students. Together with AIESEC as a partner, the Foundation can support the exchange of interns between the two countries
The Foundation of the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany (BCCG Foundation), which was founded in 1983 by BCCG members, supports German and British students with intercultural exchange programs. She wants to build bridges for deepening future relations. The cooperation and networking between young Britons and Germans is strengthened by the foundation supporting those who bring ambition and initiative and are willing to take on their own role in the sense of german-British friendship.