German Research and Innovation Tour - Florida

On January 23, 2026, the state of Florida signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) with the Federal Foreign Office of Germany formalizing transatlantic cooperation in the promotion of investment, innovation, and research across academic fields.

Building on this momentum, in early February American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AFAvH)  joined a delegation of senior representatives from leading German research and funding organizations—including the Embassy of Germany in Washington DC, the German Consulate General in Miami, the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH), the German Research Foundation (DFG),and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) —for a week-long German Research and Innovation Tour (GRIT) of universities and research institutions across Florida.

Coordinated by the German Embassy’s Science and Technology Office, this Florida tour focused on joint opportunities for US-German research and innovation on priority areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), life sciences, advanced engineering, and climate and resilience research. Throughout the week, the delegation engaged with five leading research universities: Florida State University (FSU), the University of Florida (UF), the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of Miami, and Florida International University.

Highlights of the tour included:

University of Miami: An interdisciplinary visit highlighting collaboration in climate resilience and data science, with conversations and tours at the Climate Resilience Institute, the Frost Institute for Data Science & Computing, and the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

University of Central Florida (UCF): Engaging conversations and lab visits highlighted UCF’s strengths in aerospace, photonics, modeling and simulation, and immersive technologies, pointing to promising new avenues for US–German collaboration and academic exchange.

Florida State University: Forward-looking discussions with faculty and research leaders on US–German funding pathways and partnership opportunities, followed by a visit to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory to explore collaboration in critical minerals research and advancing shared priorities.

Germany is committed to international cooperation, and this tour laid the groundwork for clear and durable pathways to lasting transatlantic research collaborations with Florida universities.

Explore photos and highlights from GRIT Florida on our LinkedIn Page.