On September 25, the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) will sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German Environment Agency (UBA) for close cooperation including joint research on environmental issues.

NIER and the UBA via this MoU make plans to share the latest information on their own research process and seek mutual benefit and long-term cooperation in a close cooperation system.

Synergy will develop among the two organizations at the forefront working on international environmental issues such as microplastics with advanced technology.

First of all, NIER and the UBA make plans on information exchange, human exchange, joint training sessions and joint research related with measurement technology, distribution characteristics and movements, risks, and management measures of microplastics.

The two institutes focus microplastic areas as a starting point and will gradually expand their focus areas.

The UBA similar to NIER is a representative German Research Institute implementing and supporting environmental policies through environmental evaluation and research.

The UBA is one of the world recognized research institute to propose analysis methods of microplastics in water to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Hyen Mi Chung, Head of the Environment Infrastructure Research Department of NIER, said "This MoU provides a good opportunity for the two institutes to continue joint research into the environment and raise the capability responding to microplastics."