Ref. Ares(2020)2879241 - 04/06/2020
The 14th Meeting of the EU-China Joint
Steering Committee on S&T Cooperation
Meeting Minutes
The 14th Meeting of EU-China Joint Steering Committee on S&T Cooperation was convened
on 13 December 2018 in Beijing. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Zhang Jianguo, Vice
Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, and Mr Jean-Eric Paquet,
Director-General of the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and
Innovation. Both sides indicated that on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Signing of
the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the
People's Republic of China and the European Union, it is very timely to convene the 14th
Meeting of the EU-China Joint Steering Committee on Scientific and Technological
Cooperation to review the progress and achievements of cooperation between the two sides
and explore new areas and ways to expand future collaboration. The two sides expressed
their satisfaction with the development of EU-China scientific and technological innovation
cooperation, believing that it has actively supported the EU-China comprehensive strategic
partnership.
Representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry
and Information Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, National Natural Science
Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Chinese
Mission to the EU, and representatives from the European Commission Directorate-General
for Research and Innovation and the Delegation of the European Union to China attended
the meeting. The list of participants from both sides is in the annex.
1. Updates on China and EU research and innovation programmes
Both sides exchanged the latest information on China and EU scientific research and
innovation programmes. China introduced the latest situation of scientific research reform.
The EU side presented the implementation of Horizon 2020 and the overall plan of Horizon
Europe.
Both sides believed that the year 2018 is the key year for China to implement the 13th Five-
Year Plan, and also for the EU that has started planning for a new research and innovation
funding programme "Horizon Europe", both creating new opportunities for the two sides to
deepen collaboration in areas of joint interest and mutual benefit.
Both sides also exchanged views with regard to the framework conditions for cooperation on
reciprocity, open access to publications and data, IPR, standards, and research integrity and
ethics. Improvements with regard to EU access to China's R&D funding schemes were
recognised, while recommendations were put forward for further improvement
1. Both sides
agreed to explore concrete recommendations on issues related to framework conditions
under the EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue (ICD) scheduled to take place back-to-
back with the 2019 EU-China Summit.
2. China-EU innovation collaboration progress and achievements
Both sides exchanged on the progress and achievements of China-EU scientific research
and innovation cooperation, and their respective views concerning innovation collaboration
as well as the evaluation and implementation of the co-funding mechanism (CFM). They
1 including for example promoting foreign experts' leading and participation in projects, involving their
access to project management, etc.
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noted that since the 13th Steering Committee, the two sides have carried out pragmatic and
fruitful research and innovation cooperation in a number of fields.
1) Assessment and implementation of CFM
Both sides recognised the instrumental role of CFM in increasing EU-China collaboration in
Horizon 2020, and proposed recommendations on improving the implementation of CFM with
regard to its planning, simplification, clarity, transparency and communication to stakeholders.
2) Implementation of flagship initiatives
Over the last years, both sides launched several Research and Innovation Flagship Initiative
cooperation projects through joint identification of areas, joint release of calls for proposals
and reciprocal funding. Both sides believe that such a progress will effectively expand the
mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides and enhance the results of the
projects. The two sides are pleased to see the enormous work dedicated to cooperation in
the following key areas.
In the area of civil aviation science and technology, based on the platform of expert
exchanges and cooperation centred on technical directions of common interest, the two
sides have supported a number of projects in the fields of additive manufacturing, green
aviation fuels, and air traffic operation technology, and have set up examples of long-term
cooperation. The EU-China aviation Task Force, which met last in Shenzhen on 3 November
2018, will plan orientations and theme of future collaboration with the support of the
InnoVATe and ICARe co-funded projects.
In the field of food, agriculture and biotechnologies (FAB), both sides have conducted active
cooperation in integrated plant disease and pest control, animal health and production
systems as well as urban agriculture, jointly improved the predictability of global agricultural
trade, and increased agricultural productivity and resource utilisation. Both sides welcomed
the convening of the next FAB Task Force meeting that will discuss priority topics for future
collaboration.
Both sides appreciated the positive collaboration under the EU-China flagship initiative on
biotechnology for environment and welcomed the agreement on the Implementation
Modalities for the years 2019-2020 between the Directorate-General for Research and
Innovation of the European Commission and the National Natural Science Foundation of
China. The EU side proposed additional possible collaboration in bio-remediation.
Both sides stressed the joint interest in environment and sustainable urbanisation to jointly
address related challenges and support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The
EU side would welcome further strengthening of cooperation possibilities in the context of
multi-lateral initiatives, especially through the Belmont Forum.
3) Multilateral activities
Both sides exchanged views with regard to multilateral cooperation mechanisms, and
expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation under the multilateral cooperation
mechanisms, including under the framework of the Ministerial Meetings of Mission Innovation
on clean energy.
4) EU-China RD-PUNE agreement
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Both sides also recalled the 10th anniversary of the EU-China RD-PUNE agreement, took
note of the progress under the agreement and encouraged further cooperation in nuclear
R&D activities.
3. Suggestions for future cooperation
EU-China Research and Innovation Cooperation Roadmap
Both sides agreed to jointly set up an EU-China scientific research and innovation
cooperation roadmap, and exchanged opinions on the preliminary structure of the roadmap.
Both sides discussed the joint planning of the roadmap preparation, proposed areas of
common interest for cooperation, so as to expand the number of areas, develop new
partnerships, enrich mechanisms for project promotion and cooperation between researchers
and innovators. Both sides agreed to create a joint team to work on the Roadmap which will
be reviewed at the next EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue. The roadmap should be
finalised by the end of 2019.
Discussion on possible future collaboration areas
Both sides also conducted discussions on future cooperation and agreed to continue
implementing the 2018-2020 flagship initiatives and to actively promote cooperation in more
areas of common interest with the support of the CFM, such as:
1) Water resources
Both sides appreciated their collaboration in this area through the Europe-China
Water Platform that supports policy dialogues, S&T exchanges and cooperation
activities. They would welcome more in depth research and technology cooperation in
this area.
2) Artificial Intelligence
Both sides exchanged information with regard to the latest development on relevant
strategies, standards, governance as well as ethical and legal framework in artificial
intelligence (AI).
3) Health
Both sides recalled the importance of cooperation within multi-lateral settings to
address global major diseases. The Chinese side presented the latest research
development in clinical medicines and major diseases. The EU side invited China to
join the multilateral initiatives such as the Joint Programming Initiative on Anti-
Microbial Resistance (AMR) and the Traumatic Brain Injury research initiative and the
International Consortium for Personalised Medicine (ICPerMed).
4) Basic research
Both sides presented their recent development on basic research and the
collaboration under Horizon 2020, and expressed the intention to reinforce
cooperation on key topics on bilateral basis such as brain science, and in the
multilateral context, such as the Human Frontier Science Programme as well as
through mobility of researchers. Both sides also underlined the importance of ethical
issues for the neuroscience fields.
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5) Marine
The Chinese side presented the latest development in deep sea exploration, marine
environment, development and utilisation of resources and scientific expedition. The
EU side recalled the collaboration with China in marine environment research in
Horizon 2020 and ocean data cooperation under the Ocean Governance Action.
6) Space
Both sides welcomed the concrete cooperation under the EU-ESA-China Space
Dialogue and within GEO, and agreed to explore other potential areas of
collaboration such as sharing of satellite data, exchange of good practices, and
respective Global Navigation Satellite Systems Application. The EU side requested to
find an adequate solution to the frequency issue between Galileo and the BeiDou
Navigation Satellite System.
7) Mobility of researchers
Both sides stressed the importance of talent exchange in promoting cooperation in
scientific and technological innovation and agreed to explore instruments to enhance
balanced two-way mobility of researchers.
Both sides also discussed relevant arrangements for the renewal of the Agreement for
Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic
of China and the European Union. After consulting their respective legal services, both sides
agreed to proceed with tacit renewal of the Science and Technology Agreement from now on.
4. Closing remarks
The Steering Committee co-chairs summarised the meeting and expressed the common
wish to strengthen and enhance cooperation.
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List of participants from the EU side:
1. Jean-Eric Paquet, Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of
the European Commission
2.
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the
European Commission
3.
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of
the European Commission
4.
Policy Officer, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
of the European Commission
5.
Delegation of
the European Union to China
6.
Delegation of the
European Union to China
7.
Science and Technology Section, Delegation of the
European Union to China
8.
, Communications Networks, Content and Technology
Section, Delegation of the European Union to China
9.
Maritime Affairs, Fishery and Transport, Delegation of
the European Union to China
10.
Climate Action and Energy, Delegation of the European
Union to China
11.
Policy Officer for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Delegation of
the European Union to China
12.
Trade & Investment Section, Delegation of the European
Union to China
13.
Improving EU Access to National and Regional
Financial Incentives for Innovation in China (Phase II)
14.
Science and Technology Section, Delegation of the
European Union to China
15.
Science and Technology Section, Delegation of the European
Union to China
16.
Science and Technology Section, Delegation of the European Union
to China
17. Interpreter
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