On June 1, 2026, Lan Yujie, Vice President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) met with Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and the delegation.

Vice President Lan extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation and introduced NSFC’s latest reform initiatives in promoting basic research, fostering innovative talent and advancing international cooperation. Vice President Lan stresses that NSFC attaches high importance to the cooperative ties with the UK. As a prestigious research-intensive university in Britain, the University of Birmingham has accomplished fruitful achievements in basic research, industry-university-research integration and global scientific collaboration. NSFC is ready to cooperate with the University of Birmingham and other top UK universities to consolidate the foundation of China-UK basic research partnership and contribute to global sustainable development.

Professor Tickell introduced the university’s research and innovation system and its long-term, extensive and in-depth cooperation with Chinese research entities. He noted that the University of Birmingham values scientific cooperation with China and expects to expand the breadth and depth of collaboration in interdisciplinary innovative studies, joint cultivation of young scientific talents and international academic exchanges, aiming to set a benchmark for China-UK research cooperation.

Professor Jon Frampton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, Fan Yingjie, Director General of NSFC’s Bureau of International Cooperation, and relevant staff from the Europe Division were present at the meeting.