Scientists in Scotland are joining forces with those in Canada for carbon capture and storage (CCS) research.

The University of Edinburgh will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Regina in a bid to accelerate progress on CCS.

They will establish up to three MSc scholarships worth C$10,000 (£5,238) every year to support the research project.

Canadian CCS firm SaskPower is providing financial support and students that win the award will spend two terms in the UK before studying in Canada.

The company’s Boundary Dam project was the world’s first large-scale CCS scheme to start operating in October 2014.

Alan Mackay, Director of the International Office and Deputy Vice Principal International at the University of Edinburgh said: “The collaboration between our two universities is an excellent example of how international collaboration can tackle an international problem such as climate change.

“These student placements not only build links between the UK and Canada but will also contribute to finding solutions to the urgent challenge of tackling increasing CO2 emissions worldwide.”

Last year the UK Government scrapped a £1 billion CCS competition.

Earlier this month, MPs however warned the country’s climate targets could be at risk without the technology and another report this week found the role of gas in the UK’s energy future is “limited” without CCS.