(Canada) German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be in Halifax Thursday for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on scientific research between Dalhousie University and the Helmholz Association of German

Research Centre.

Her east coast visit will follow a whirlwind 24-hour visit with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa.

Premier Darrell Dexter said the agreement will allow scientists from here to work in Germany and German researchers to work here.

"We have more than 400 PhDs in Nova Scotia in marine-related fields. This is an extraordinary resource and we think that we can build a synergy around that, that will be good for the academic sector but also will be really good for the business sector," Dexter said.

"What we want to see, of course, is commercializing this academic research and moving it kind of out of the lab and into the business world."

Officials have been trying to arrange bilateral talks between Merkel and Harper for months after failing to co-ordinate their schedules around successive G8 or NATO summits. The two leaders held a private dinner and discussion Wednesday evening.

Merkel is expected at Dalhousie University at 5 p.m to sign the research agreement.

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CBC News