The C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics will join with the Institute for Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (IPMU), Japan, Caltech and Canada's Perimeter Institute as partners of the Humboldt University in Berlin, groups of the National Center for Scientific Research, Paris and the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto in a four-year European Commission Marie Curie exchange program.

The exchange program, entitled `Unification of Fundamental Forces and Applications' (UNIFY) will support visits by European researchers from partner institutions to the YITP, and encourage reciprocal visits by YITP faculty in exchange. Topics of research include gauge/gravity duality, string theory, cosmology and supergravity. The program will also organize and coordinate periodic workshops and schools.

The UNIFY program will be supported under the International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) described at http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/understanding/marie-curieinbrief/swapping-staff_en.html . The grant is an award resulting from a competition open to all areas of science and technology.

Prof. Leonardo Rastelli will serve as a member of the Executive Board of the UNIFY program. Other YITP members involved in preparing the proposal include Martin Rocek, George Sterman and Peter van Nieuwenhuizen.