EU-China summit sees commitment to up research co-operation

The 17th bilateral summit between the European Union and the People’s Republic of China concluded yesterday in Brussels, with the two sides agreeing to a number of research commitments.

On the sidelines of the conference, Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas and Wan Gang, Chinese Minister for Science and Technology, agreed to step up EU-China co-operation in the field of research and innovation (R&I) at the second EU-China Innovation Co-operation Dialogue.

The EU and China also agreed on the setting up of a new co-funding mechanism to support joint research and innovation projects in strategic areas. This will be funded via Horizon 2020 as well as Chinese research and innovation funding programmes.

Moreover, the two sides made a commitment to working together to ensure reciprocal access to their respective research and innovation funding programmes through participation rules, regular exchange of data, and the timely provision of information to participants.

Moedas and Gang also signed an agreement to launch a new research initiative to allow young Chinese scientists to join ERC-funded projects. They will be supported in this by the National Natural Science Foundation, and the first scientific exchanges are expected later this autumn.

A new collaborative research arrangement between the Joint Research Centre and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth will also contribute to addressing global challenges, including sustainable development, climate action and disaster risk reduction.