This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is made by and between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“the United Kingdom”) and the State of Colorado in the United States of America (“the State of Colorado”), (collectively, the “Participants” and each a “Participant”).

WHEREAS, the United Kingdom and the State of Colorado maintain strong historic, commercial and research links;

WHEREAS, the Participants recognise the overall importance of the economic relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom, and the relationship between the United Kingdom and the State of Colorado;

WHEREAS, the Participants aspire to accelerate and secure the significant social and economic benefits that innovation, a just transition, clean and smart growth, efficient resource management and a more circular economy, addressing biodiversity loss and protecting the environment against air, water, and waste pollution deliver in building and facilitating a greener and more resilient planet;

WHEREAS, the Participants support the objectives of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, recognise the urgency of addressing global climate change and aim to strengthen bilateral co-operation in decarbonising their economies, promoting sustainable growth, facilitating trade and investment in environmental goods and services, as well as technologies and research, upskilling, reskilling, and ensuring compliance with international labour standards;

WHEREAS, the Participants recognise that the mutually enabling relationship and links between innovation, trade and investment are fundamental to economic growth and prosperity;

THEREFORE, the Participants, in the spirit of promoting closer relationships and mutual prosperity, intend to further support and work co-operatively within the boundaries of existing laws and treaties in their respective jurisdictions on objectives and issues as set forth below.

Section 1: objectives

Through this MOU, the United Kingdom and the State of Colorado intend to:

1. Increase trade between the United Kingdom and the State of Colorado through deepening economic development co-operation, trade relations, fostering innovation and strengthening business links.
2. Create a forum to identify and address existing or anticipated barriers to trade, investment and economic co-operation and development that have been mutually decided on.
3. Improve supply chain resilience through increased co-operation.
4. Grow academic and research ties through promoting collaborative projects, student exchanges, research and information exchange.
5. Support the Colorado for All Framework and the United Kingdom’s regional growth agendas respectively, where underserved and underrepresented populations in every part of the United Kingdom and State of Colorado participate in economic development opportunities fostered through innovation, hub and spoke models, and education partnerships.
6. Support economic empowerment and opportunities for historically under-represented groups such as women and minority groups, including employees, consumers, business owners, and entrepreneurs, ensure no one is discriminated against in the workplace and recognise the opportunities of a diverse workforce.
7. Support global decarbonisation and the pathway to net zero, including through meeting domestic commitments and firm plans to phase out unabated coal power by the end of 2030 as participants in the Powering Past Coal Alliance, as well as ensuring a just transition for workers and communities traditionally reliant on fossil fuel economies.
8. Support tourism in both markets to encourage economic growth.

Section 2: priority areas for focus and co-operation

1. In furtherance of the principle of mutual benefit, the Participants intend to prioritise the following areas for focus and co-operation (the “Priority Areas”) which may include:
   a. clean energy and low emissions technology that advances industrial decarbonisation and addresses biodiversity loss including renewable energy generation, electrification, sustainable aviation fuels, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, carbon capture, clean hydrogen, energy storage, and energy efficiency
   b. space: commercial and civil, including space exploration and science, ground stations, launch services and pads, space transportation, satellite manufacturing, communications, imagery, position, navigation and timing (PNT), and space construction and refuelling
   c. digital, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies
   d. agriculture: Climate Smart Agriculture - including water use optimisation, soil health, and agrivoltaics; Agricultural Technology and Biotechnology- Improve farm management and productivity in a manner supportive of sustainable food production systems; Animal health and welfare – Explore shared values and common objectives around improving animal welfare and a reduced spread of antimicrobial resistance
   e. tourism: collaborate to support tourism in both markets, sharing insights and expertise
   f. innovation, as it occurs in the above Priority Areas
   

2. In addition, the Participants:
   a. reaffirm their existing obligations under the Revised World Trade Organisation Agreement on Government Procurement (“WTO GPA”) and intend to explore opportunities to open access to markets covered in the WTO GPA and encourage private company participation in mutually acceptable government procurement markets of the United Kingdom and the State of Colorado. The Participants will maintain an open dialogue regarding current and future procurement trade related initiatives and developments.
   b. intend to consider and, as appropriate, pursue solutions to specific market access barriers. This may include supporting regulators and professional bodies in Colorado and the United Kingdom interested in pursuing recognition arrangements for professional qualifications to expand access in both markets.

Section 3: activities and initiatives

To achieve the objectives described in Section 1 of this MOU, the Participants may carry out the following activities and initiatives:

1. Best Practice Exchange - Share information and best practices in areas such as policy and programme design and implementation, capacity-building, and development of expertise to foster growth, inclusive trade and investment, and innovation across all sectors.
2. Private-Sector Partnership Development - Facilitate the development of direct contacts and partnerships between relevant public and private sector actors, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, businesses in rural communities, businesses owned or led by women, and businesses owned or led by minority groups or other historically under-represented or under-resourced groups.
3. Academic and Research Community Co-operation - Connect researchers, students, and thought leaders for information sharing, collaboration, and other types of co-operation, whilst simultaneously ensuring that any collaboration should conform to proportionate standards of research security and integrity.
4. Joint Projects and Events - Encourage and promote dialogue, networking and co-operation between companies, government entities, and research organisations through visits such as trade and investment missions, workshops, meetings, trade promotion, and other activities, which are mutually beneficial and acceptable to both Participants.
5. Agriculture Innovation Corridor - Seek to bring together academic and other partners in the United Kingdom and Colorado to facilitate dialogues around the promotion of agritech innovation; seek to facilitate mutual agri-business development and operations in Colorado and the United Kingdom through informational support and introductions provided by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the United Kingdom’s Department for Business and Trade.
6. Manufacturing and Co-packing - A collaborative approach to increase business opportunities and distribution of agricultural products in the United Kingdom and Colorado, seeking to support business to business introductions.
7. Institutional and Corporate Investment - Facilitate introductions, explore opportunities for public and private sector institutions to deploy development capital, whether directly or via third party funds, in areas including but not limited to; clean energy and green technology; space, digital, and agriculture.

Section 4: implementation and steering group

1. In addition to the activities and initiatives set out in Section 3 of this MOU, the Participants will, on a regular basis, inform and consult with one another on matters of common interest that represent opportunities for mutual benefit and are consistent with this MOU.
2. The Participants will meet periodically in the form of a Steering Group to coordinate the implementation of the MOU (“the Steering Group”). Activities of the Steering Group may include:
   a. identifying, and, where appropriate, addressing barriers to trade and investment
   b. consideration of matters relating to the interaction between innovation, trade and investment, including responses to potential disruptions to trade and investment, and regulatory approaches that facilitate innovation
   c. exchange of best practice and information relevant to the Priority Areas outlined in Section 2 of this MOU
   d. where appropriate, facilitating participation of stakeholders in the private sector and academic community to discuss matters pertinent to the MOU, such as through industry working groups
   e. reviewing the operation of the MOU to ensure it is continuously up-to-date and relevant for the growing United Kingdom-Colorado relationship, including publishing joint statements highlighting successes and opportunity areas around working groups
   f. carrying out any other mutually acceptable forms of cooperation that contribute to the objectives of this MOU including facilitating introductions for relevant public and private sector institutions to explore investment opportunities
   
3. The United Kingdom may also raise issues of opportunity and mutual interest relating to territories for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible, where appropriate, namely the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, the Isle of Man, and the Overseas Territories.
4. The Participants designate the following coordinating authorities to oversee all interactions related to this MOU and its implementation:
   a. for the State of Colorado: the Offices of the Governor
   b. for the United Kingdom: the Department for Business and Trade, the British Consulate General in Chicago, and the United Kingdom Government Office in Denver
   
5. The above designees will also be tasked with identifying participants for the Steering Group.

Section 5: third party participation

1. The Participants acknowledge that individuals and entities from the private, public, academic, research, and other sectors may be invited to participate in the cooperative activities and initiatives described herein, provided that such individuals and/or entities can directly and meaningfully contribute to the achievements of the objectives of the MOU.
2. Subject to each Participant’s absolute discretion, this third party participation in the activities and initiatives under this MOU may include, but is not limited to, the involvement of research institutions, economic development organisations, non-governmental and advisory bodies, regional or local levels of government, private enterprise, trade associations, and/or public-private partnerships.

Section 6: information sharing and confidentiality

1. The Participants recognise that to facilitate the objectives of this MOU, information may pass between them. The sharing of information under this MOU is subject to the following provisions:
   a. the Participants may only use the information for purposes which further the objectives of this MOU
   b. the Participants may only disclose any part of the information to a third party if the Participant wishing to disclose the information seeks and obtains prior written consent from the other Participant, except in circumstances described below in subparagraph c
   c in circumstances where either Participant is legally obliged to disclose any information related to this MOU under applicable legislation, by court order or for another reason it will inform the other Participant before doing so
   

Section 7: intellectual property

1. The Participants acknowledge that any intellectual property brought by one Participant for the implementation of this MOU will remain the property of that Participant.
2. In the event that any intellectual property rights should arise from activity carried out in accordance with this MOU, the Participants understand it will be attributed and protected in accordance with the Participants’ respective state and national laws, and it will be subject to separate and specific arrangements concluded between the Participants in relation to the specific activity.

Section 8: funding

The Participants understand that this MOU does not commit either Participant to financially support any activity carried out under its provisions.

Section 9: interpretation and application of this MOU

The Participants are committed to acting in good faith. Any disagreements between the Participants about the interpretation or application of this MOU will only be settled by consultation and negotiation between the Participants and not referred to any third party, court, or tribunal.

Section 10: entry into operation, amendment, and termination

1. This MOU will come into operation on the date of the later of the Participants’ signatures and will continue to have effect until it is terminated.
2. Either Participant may terminate this MOU by providing 45 days’ written notice of its withdrawal to the other Participant.
3. Either Participant may request changes to this MOU. The provisions of this MOU may be amended at any time to take account of changed circumstances.
4. Any amendment or revision to the provisions of this MOU will be done in writing by mutual consent of the Participants. Such amendment or revision will come into effect upon its signing.

Section 11: status of this MOU

1. This MOU is not legally binding under state, national or international law and does not create any legal obligation to undertake or to financially support any activity.
2. The Participants confirm that all actions they carry out under this MOU will be subject as appropriate to national, state, and international law, and any other applicable rules and obligations.
3. This MOU does not affect the rights of and obligations of third parties or the rights of the Participants to conclude arrangements or agreements with respect to any matter described in this MOU.

The foregoing record represents the understandings reached between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the State of Colorado in the United States of America upon the matters referred to therein.

This MOU is signed on Monday 27 January 2025 in Denver, Colorado by:

Richard Hyde

His Majesty’s Consul General in Chicago

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Jared Polis

Governor

For the State of Colorado