International Networking for Young Scientists is an initiative that supports our purpose of ‘nurturing mutually beneficial relationships with other countries’, by encouraging and facilitating the mobility of, and direct contact between, young researchers.  It supports face-to-face meetings between young scientists and engineers from the UK and other countries, for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information and the building of international connections that assist the innovation process.

Particularly for young researchers, travel is the extended laboratory: it is a powerful source of new ideas and a strong driver for creativity.  While teleworking and electronic networks make it possible to create virtual centres of excellence, it is direct people-to-people contact that will make them successful.  The mobility of scientists is the social glue that gives meaning to distant communications, turning unwanted emails into useful correspondence, and curious ideas into interesting results.  By supporting the mobility of young scientists, we have a key role to play in enabling such centres, helping to create and maintain the lasting relationships that are needed to support electronic communications between them.