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RLS- Sciences seeks to leverage the unique composition and strengths of the RLS network to support scientific research within and between the RLS regions. We work to generate and support academic, scientific and technological exchanges, and the initiation of multilateral research projects. |
Highlights
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RLS-Sciences Summer Newsletter 2026 Online
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24 July, 2026
The RLS-Sciences Summer newsletter is now online. This special edition reflects on the RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2026 and features exciting updates from network partners, including the launch of the three TOM Small Satellites on 7 July. In this edition, we also announce the next RLS-Sciences activities in the fall. The RLS-Sciences Summer Special Edition newsletter can be downloaded here. Find all RLS-Sciences newsletters in the Newsletter Archive. |
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RLS-Sciences celebrated its 10th anniversary
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Founded in 2016, the RLS-Sciences network celebrated its 10th anniversary in the framework of the 2026 Overall Conference with high-level representatives from science and government.
In the evening of June 15th, partners from all seven RLS regions, as well as external guests, came together at Katholische Akademie in Bayern, Munich, to hear keynotes, panel discussions and further presentations on the topic “The Role of High Technologies in Science and Innovation”. All seven regions contributed with insights into their research priorities and ideas for closer collaboration in science.
Highlights of the event included:
See the full celebration program here.
In the evening of June 15th, partners from all seven RLS regions, as well as external guests, came together at Katholische Akademie in Bayern, Munich, to hear keynotes, panel discussions and further presentations on the topic “The Role of High Technologies in Science and Innovation”. All seven regions contributed with insights into their research priorities and ideas for closer collaboration in science.
Highlights of the event included:
- Welcome remarks by State Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann, Bavaria, and Landeshauptmann-Stellvertreterin Mag. Christine Haberlander, Upper Austria, who showcased how international science collaboration fits into the regional innovation strategies Hightech Agenda Bavaria and #upperVISION2030
- A keynote by Prof. Dieter Kranzlmüller, LRZ and LMU Munich, on “High performance computing for RLS-Sciences research”, discussing the innovation potential of RLS-Sciences’ research topics in light of global challenges
- A panel on “Innovation models in High Technologies”, sharing results of the Energy group’s scientific publication on innovation zones in the seven RLS regions; with an introductory talk by TUM vice-president Prof. Dr. Gerhard Kramer on the campus Garching model as a regional science and innovation hub
- A guest talk by Prof. Janice Bailey, Fonds de recherche du Québec-Nature et technologie, on research priorities, science diplomacy, science advice and funding opportunities in Québec
- Closing remarks by RLS-Sciences President Prof. Louis Gosselin on his vision for the future of the network (“Ambition and Impact”)
See the full celebration program here.
RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2026
14-18 June, 2026
For the first time since its establishment in 2019, the RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2026 was co-hosted by two regions, Bavaria and Upper Austria, and took place in Munich and Linz. From 14th-18th June 2026, almost 100 participants from all seven RLS regions, including regional political coordinators, came together to advance work in the research groups and to pursue their interdisciplinary exchange on cross-topic subjects. Reflecting the close ties between the political and scientific levels, the network was privileged to attend a reception hosted by Governor Thomas Stelzer at the Landhaus Linz for RLS-Sciences members and further guests from Upper Austria. The 2026 conference also marked the 10th anniversary of RLS-Sciences, which was celebrated with high-level representatives from science and government in Munich on June 15th.
Building on the 12th RLS summit in Cape Town in 2025, the joint sessions throughout the program focused on resilience as well as on technological innovation in agriculture. A research group on Precision Agriculture was formed. Upper Austrian Minister of Agriculture Michaela Langer-Weninger reemphasized the importance of the topic and the need to collaborate across regions to stimulate innovation.
The four existing research groups Energy Network, Global Aerospace Campus, Small Satellites, and Digital Health held parallel thematic sessions, exchanging on current priorities in their fields and possibilities for collaboration.
The regional participants had the chance to take part in insightful site visits. The Aerospace and Small Satellites group visited different Aerospace chairs at Technical University Munich (TUM) and FACC AG in Upper Austria, as well as the Hydrogen Research Institute and the Campus Wels of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. The Digital Health Group paid visits to the Leibniz Rechenzentrum (LRZ) and RISC Software GmbH at Softwarepark Hagenberg. The Energy group toured different Energy chairs and laboratories at TUM, Technologiezentrum Energie (TZE), H2Future / voestalpine and the Future Heat Highway Linz / Linz AG. The Precision Agriculture experts joined the Energy group in parts of their program and further visited Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) and Pöttinger Landtechnik GmbH.
This 2026 conference marked the fourth iteration of the RLS-Sciences Overall Conference. The first was hosted by FAPESP and INPE in São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo in 2019. In 2022, Bavaria hosted the second conference in Herrsching. The third conference was held in Québec in 2024, at the invitation of the Québec Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie. The conferences create an opportunity for the entire RLS-Sciences network to meet in person, deepening work in the parallel thematic sessions and exchanging with other groups in joint interdisciplinary sessions and during networking.
See the full conference program here.
The next RLS-Sciences Overall Conference will take place in 2028.
14-18 June, 2026
For the first time since its establishment in 2019, the RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2026 was co-hosted by two regions, Bavaria and Upper Austria, and took place in Munich and Linz. From 14th-18th June 2026, almost 100 participants from all seven RLS regions, including regional political coordinators, came together to advance work in the research groups and to pursue their interdisciplinary exchange on cross-topic subjects. Reflecting the close ties between the political and scientific levels, the network was privileged to attend a reception hosted by Governor Thomas Stelzer at the Landhaus Linz for RLS-Sciences members and further guests from Upper Austria. The 2026 conference also marked the 10th anniversary of RLS-Sciences, which was celebrated with high-level representatives from science and government in Munich on June 15th.
Building on the 12th RLS summit in Cape Town in 2025, the joint sessions throughout the program focused on resilience as well as on technological innovation in agriculture. A research group on Precision Agriculture was formed. Upper Austrian Minister of Agriculture Michaela Langer-Weninger reemphasized the importance of the topic and the need to collaborate across regions to stimulate innovation.
The four existing research groups Energy Network, Global Aerospace Campus, Small Satellites, and Digital Health held parallel thematic sessions, exchanging on current priorities in their fields and possibilities for collaboration.
The regional participants had the chance to take part in insightful site visits. The Aerospace and Small Satellites group visited different Aerospace chairs at Technical University Munich (TUM) and FACC AG in Upper Austria, as well as the Hydrogen Research Institute and the Campus Wels of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. The Digital Health Group paid visits to the Leibniz Rechenzentrum (LRZ) and RISC Software GmbH at Softwarepark Hagenberg. The Energy group toured different Energy chairs and laboratories at TUM, Technologiezentrum Energie (TZE), H2Future / voestalpine and the Future Heat Highway Linz / Linz AG. The Precision Agriculture experts joined the Energy group in parts of their program and further visited Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) and Pöttinger Landtechnik GmbH.
This 2026 conference marked the fourth iteration of the RLS-Sciences Overall Conference. The first was hosted by FAPESP and INPE in São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo in 2019. In 2022, Bavaria hosted the second conference in Herrsching. The third conference was held in Québec in 2024, at the invitation of the Québec Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie. The conferences create an opportunity for the entire RLS-Sciences network to meet in person, deepening work in the parallel thematic sessions and exchanging with other groups in joint interdisciplinary sessions and during networking.
See the full conference program here.
The next RLS-Sciences Overall Conference will take place in 2028.
About RLS- Sciences
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The Regional Leaders Summit (RLS) is a forum comprising seven regional governments: Bavaria (Germany), Georgia (USA), Québec (Canada), São Paulo (Brazil), Shandong (China), Upper Austria (Austria), and Western Cape (South Africa). Within the framework of RLS, RLS-Sciences seeks to leverage the unique composition and strengths of the RLS network to support scientific research within and between the RLS regions. The goal is to generate and support academic, scientific, and technological exchanges, as well as the initiation of multilateral research projects. RLS-Sciences is comprised of its scientific network, the existing bilateral relationships between the RLS members, and its five research projects: RLS-Energy Network (the RLS-Sciences pilot project), the RLS-Expert Dialogue on Digitalization, the RLS-Global Aerospace Campus, RLS-Small Satellites , and RLS-Digital Health.
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