UK Government renews offer to build new ECMWF headquarters at University of Reading
10 December 2020
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has committed to keeping its headquarters in the UK, as it announced a decision to open new offices in Bonn, Germany.
The University of Reading congratulates Bonn, and also welcomes a renewed UK Government commitment to build new headquarters and research facilities for ECMWF on the University’s Whiteknights campus, as confirmed by the UK Science Minister, Amanda Solloway, on 10 December.
Professor Dominik Zaum, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Reading, said:
“Congratulations to Bonn and Helsinki, which today join Reading and Bologna in the family of ECMWF-hosting communities. We look forward to working closely with this growing scientific network, to build on existing collaborations and strengths, which are so important for the study of the environment and for green economic growth.
“We welcome the clear statement from the UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway, which highlights the strong UK commitment to relocate ECMWF’s core work to new premises at the University of Reading.
“Reading is one of the world’s leading scientific centres for weather, climate and environmental science. The combined power of researchers based at the University of Reading, including units of the UK Met Office and the Natural Environment Research Council, plus the core work of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, will continue to represent a scientific force that benefits the whole world.”
'Congratulations to Bonn & Helsinki on being chosen to host EU-funded activities of @ECMWF - a world-leading weather forecasting organisation. We look forward to collaborating with them & stand by our offer to build a world-class headquarters at the @UniofReading.' -- UK Science Minister, Amanda Solloway MP.
Making the announcement on Wednesday, ECMWF said that while Brexit did not affect its core activities – which include providing weather and climate forecasting, scientific research and training – it needed new offices within the EU to deliver EU-funded activity, such as for the Copernicus Programme.
The University of Reading is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of weather and climate – one of the principal reasons why ECMWF was located in Reading when it was set up in the 1970s. The two organisations have collaborated closely for five decades, benefitting all ECMWF member states, and people across the world.
Find out more about these partnerships for the planet #PlanetPartners >