Asia

The Royal Society has enjoyed a long, rich history of exchanges across Asia.

Cooperation with China dates back to the seventeenth century. Today, the Society holds formal Memorandums of understanding with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Chinese Association with Science and Technology (CAST), and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). In May 2019, the Royal Society and the Chinese Academy of Sciences signed a joint statement on working together (PDF).

The Society has also long-recognised the importance of Indian science, having elected its first Indian Fellow, Ardaseer Cursetjee, in 1841. 

The Society has maintained strong links with academies in both South Korea and Japan through hosting a series of bilateral research conferences that bring together scientists and policymakers to collaborate on a broad range of scientific areas. The Society has supported pioneering science diplomacy initiatives. For example, in 2013 the Society helped to facilitate a collaboration between UK and DPRK scientists to research earthquake activity beneath the Mount Paektu volcano.   

Find out about funding opportunities for scientists wishing to collaborate with their counterparts from the region.

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