Ref. Ares(2020)2879241 - 04/06/2020
MINUTES
OF
THE 9TH STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE
EU-CHINA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT
(9th EU-China JSCST)
Date: 22 March 2011
Venue: Brussels, Square de Meeûs, 8 - Research and Innovation Directorate General
The 9th EU-China JSCST meeting was held in the Directorate General for Research and
Innovation of the European Commission (RTD) and was co-chaired on the EU side by
Robert-Jan Smits, Director General, and Anneli Pauli, Deputy Director-General, and, on the
Chinese side, by the Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr.
Cao Jianlin.
AGENDA ITEM .1
1. Welcome of participants and Adoption of the agenda
DDG Pauli welcomed the participants noted the 2011 EU-China Year of Youth. She
highlighted the convening of the first Joint Steering Committee meeting of the "EURATOM-
China Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy" (PUNE) Agreement and the second EU-China
Dialogue on ICT research that preceded the 9th JSCST. The EC participants were introduced.
VM Cao reviewed the progress of the EU-China science and technology cooperation and
underlined the significance of innovation and the translation of research results. The Chinese
participants were introduced (see Annex 1).
•
The Minutes of the 8th JSCST Meeting in Beijing held the 10th of November 2009
in Beijing were adopted and the proposed Agenda for the 9th JSCST Meeting
approved (see Annex 2).
AGENDA ITEM .2
2. Modalities of functioning of the EU-China Joint Steering Committee
The refocusing of European research policy in line with the Innovation Union created the
need for a more targeted and strategic scientific cooperation with China. The EU-China
JSCST would remain the privileged tool for dialogue, coordination and decision making
between the EU and China, but needed to better ensure scientific cooperation between
individual Chinese institutions and the relevant EU thematic services. For the Chinese side,
there was agreement on the proposal and VM Cao emphasized the need to update the structure
for the S&T collaborations between individual Chinese institutions and the EU so as to
improve synergies. The role of the JSCST as a guiding body should be strengthened and its
scope expanded in order to coordinate cooperation in different thematic areas. The JSCST
would become an ‘umbrella’ Joint Steering Committee. Under the auspices of this ‘umbrella’,
specific cooperation issues shall be discussed directly by the relevant Chinese and EU
institutions. VM Cao proposed to hold the first full ‘umbrella’ JSCST in China in 2012.
AGENDA ITEM .3
3. Recent S&T&I policy developments in the EU and in China
• Recent S&T&I Policy developments in China , including prospects for increased China-EU
cooperation
• Recent developments in the S&T&I policy of the EU, including prospects for increased EU-China
cooperation
VM Cao emphasised the importance of science and technologies as a means of exiting the
world economic crisis. He underlined the crucial role of Science, Technology and Innovation
in China’s economic development and highlighted the political will of the Chinese
government in S&T. He proposed establishing a China-EU technology transfer centre (as a
type of science park) to provide impetus to the China-EU exchanges and economic
advancement.
DDG Pauli then presented the EU's new scientific cooperation approach towards China that
aims to strengthen activities between the EU and its Member States based on research needs
and priorities of common interest. She presented the ‘Innovation Union’ flagship initiative of
the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy and noted the need for cooperation in research and innovation to
address global challenges. Given the convergence of approach in the EU and China it was
suggested that both parties should evaluate the opportunity of creating an
ad hoc task force on
‘Innovation’. DDG Pauli suggested that an important occasion for consolidating the EU-
China scientific cooperation would be the visit of RTD Commissioner, Mrs Geoghegan-
Quinn, to Shanghai and Beijing in the second half of May.
AGENDA ITEM .4
4. Review of cooperation progress:
•
through EU FP7
•
on-going cooperation projects:
o
Proteomics
o
NZEC
Mr Isi Saragossi, Director International Cooperation, reviewed recent progress in EU-China
cooperation in the light of developments in EU research and innovation policy. Recalling that
FP7 has been open to Chinese participation since its inception, he noted Chinese participation
in FP7: China ranks in 3rd position after the USA and Russia in terms of participation in
projects (2007-2010) within the Cooperation Programme. The 218 Chinese partners in
selected proposals so far under FP7 cover a wide range of themes (including Transport, ICT,
Environment, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology). China's participation in
the Marie Curie actions under the FP7 People programme is considered successful both in
terms of the number of researchers and of organisations involved: it ranks the second country
after India with 54 researchers selected to carry out research activities in Europe. It also has a
very high involvement (62 organisations) of Chinese research institutes to the Marie Curie
International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). However, it was stressed that
scientific co-operation between EU and China can be improved further in valueing research
results.RTD and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology MoST should address
together conditions needed to support such initiatives.
Mr Zhang Xianen, Director General of Department of Basic Research, reviewed the 973
Programme supporting international scientific cooperation There are four main areas of
cooperation with the EU: health, environment (soil, water and vegetation), proteomics and
global change with particular attention to geological disasters.
,
of the Department of International Cooperation, reviewed the international
scientific and technological cooperation that supports projects with the EU in a number of
fields such as Food Agriculture Biotechnologies, Environment and Information Society.
Within International S&T Cooperation Programme (ISTCP), 456 projects involve EU partners
(for a total budget of M€ 91) principally recipients of Chinese researchers. Seven of these
projects with the participation of 8 EU countries and with a total of 21 research institutions
are funded by China. Research funding in China is, by nature, domestic. The issue of properly
protecting intellectual property rights and ensuring reciprocity in research programmes in
respect of procedures and specifities on both sides were underlined.
With respect of Near Zero Emissions Coal (NZEC), it was stressed to implement our
cooperation in this field in accordance to the conditions agreed in the MoU signed in Nanjing
in 2009 on the occasion of the 12th EU-China Summit.
VM Cao proposed to create a special fund to support EU-China S&T collaboration and DDG
Pauli, in response, suggested setting up a specific taskforce to explore the possibilities for
enhancing joint efforts.
AGENDA ITEM .5
5. Areas for increased or new cooperation in specific thematic or horizontal areas:
• Food Agriculture Biotechnologies
• Energy
Other candidate areas: (i.e. S&T evaluation, infrastructures)
,
of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Mrs Maive Rute Director of Food,
Agriculture and Biotechnologies, presented the
ad hoc taskforce on Food, Agriculture and
Biotechnologies that will aim to further promote cooperation in this field. The taskforce will
report to the JSCST and the conclusions of its meetings and roadmaps will constitute an
integral part of the strategic orientations endorsed by the JSCST.
and
illustrated their work on non-nuclear energy. This
implements the ‘Joint Statement’ signed in December 2010. Currently, this task-force will
link the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Directorate for Energy of the
Research & Innovation Directorate General. The task-force will initially work on
concentrated solar power. Additional topics are expected to be added in the coming years.
•
The initiative on Food, Agriculture and Biotechnologies was welcomed the
taskforce formally adopted.
•
The JSCST welcomed and supported the collaboration between the Energy
Directorate and the Ministry of Science and Technology with a view to identifying
and implementing jointly defined activities under the Joint Statement signed in
December 2010.
•
For biomaterials, both sides will promote together the implementation of the
‘Administrative Arrangement’ signed between the National Natural Science
Foundation of China and the Directorate-General for Research of the European
Commission in March 2010 for joint research cooperation in this field.
•
The two sides will explore the feasibility of a specific task-force on innovation by
tapping different tools such as science parks, technology transfer centres, R&D
cooperation among SMEs, etc.
AGENDA ITEM .6
6. Strengthening links between S&T and general cooperation
of China Unit EEAS reviewed the strategic partnership established between
the EU and China in the field of Science & Technology. This includes the major flagship
cooperation projects ITER and GALILEO, which aim respectively to develop a new source of
energy and more precise positioning data for better services for their societies. In addition the
EU and China cooperate in the field of capacity development with exchange programs from
both sides. The EU is looking to set up and put into effect people-to-people contacts on
different levels of society, especially for young people and students. The EU underlines the
importance of starting Chinese language training in European schools.
stressed the contribution of different agreements in specific fields of science and
technology signed in the past China-EU Summits to the overall growth of China-EU
relationship.
also pointed out the role of S&T cooperation in the social and economic
partnership between China and the EU, having EU as the largest S&T partner and technology
exporter for China.
AGENDA ITEM .7
7. Conclusions and next steps of the Joint Steering Committee on S&T (also covering the
Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy Joint Steering Committee; and the Information Society
Dialogue Meeting).
from DG Research and Innovation and DG Luo Delong presented the
main conclusions and future perspectives of the 1st Steering Committee meeting of the
Agreement ‘Euratom-China for R&D Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy’
(PUNE) (see Annex 4).
from DG Information Society and
presented the main conclusions and perspectives of the 2nd Information Society
Dialogue meeting (see Annex 5).
The co-chairs, DG Smits and VM Cao, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the 9th
Joint Steering Committee and welcomed the establishment of a new structure for cooperation
(see Annex 3).
AGENDA ITEM .8
8. Closure of the meeting
The co-chairs underlined the positive and constructive contacts established in the two days of
work and agreed to hold the 10th JSCST in China as an important moment of verification of
the newly launched ‘umbrella” approach of the steering committee.
Annex 2
Agenda
9th Meeting of the EU-China S&T Cooperation Steering Committee
Brussels, 22 March 2010 (09h00 – 12h30)
SDME 02/136 + 02/137 with
consecutive translation.
Time
Agenda
Title
Principal presenters
item
09h00-09h15
1
Welcome of participants and Adoption of the Mrs Anneli Pauli
agenda
Mr Cao Jianlin
09h15-09h35
2
Modalities of functioning of the EU-China
Mrs Anneli Pauli
Joint Steering Committee
& Mr Cao Jianlin
09h35-10h15
3
Recent S&T&I policy developments in the
EU and in China
• Recent S&T&I Policy developments in
Mr Cao Jianlin
China , including prospects for increased
China-EU cooperation
•
Mrs Anneli Pauli
Recent developments in the S&T&I
policy of the EU, including prospects for
increased EU-China cooperation
10h15-10h55
4
Review of cooperation progress:
• through EU FP7
Mr Isi Saragossi
• on-going cooperation projects:
o Proteomics
o NZEC
10h55-11h50
5
Areas for increased or new cooperation in
Mrs Anneli Pauli
specific thematic or horizontal areas:
• Food Agriculture Biotechnologies
Ms M. Rute
• Energy
Other candidate areas:
(i.e. S&T evaluation, infrastructures)
EC Speakers
11h50-12h05
6
Strengthening links between S&T and
general cooperation
12h05-12h30
7
Conclusions and next steps of the Joint
Mr Cao Jianlin
Steering Committee on S&T (also covering
&
the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy Joint
Steering Committee; and the Information
Mr Robert-Jan Smits
Society Dialogue Meeting).
12h30
8
Closure of the meeting
Mr Cao Jianlin
& Mr Robert-Jan Smits
Annex 3
9th MEETING
EU-CHINA S&T COOPERATION STEERING COMMITTEE
22 March, (09.00-12.30)
Brussels, Square de Meeûs, 8 – 1050 Brussels
Meeting Room, SDME 02/136 - 137
The 9th EU-China Joint Steering Committee on S&T (JSCST) held the 22nd of March 2011
took place immediately after the first Joint Steering Committee of the "EURATOM-China
Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy" Agreement (the 21st in the morning) and the second EU-
China dialogue on ICT research (the 21st afternoon).
The JSCST Meeting agreed on the following:
• The functioning of the Joint Steering Committee was amended to enhance and better
coordinate EU-China S&T co-operation. In particular, the JSCST will be considered as a
common "umbrella" for joint initiatives. In this perspective, future JSCST meetings
should ensure the involvement and presence of concerned Directorates General on the EU
side and administration and other co-interested bodies on the Chinese side;
• The 9th JSCST endorsed the principle of creating specific EU-China task-forces to work
together on topics of common concern. Each Party can propose then agree by consensus
on the creation of task forces on specific topics, taking into consideration common
interest, mutual benefit, reciprocity, and expected impact (through appropriate scale and
scope activities). The JSCST will grant enough autonomy to the task-forces for
implementing Research & Innovation activities having mutual interest and identifying
concrete steps to implement new actions. The task-force will report to the JSCST that
remains the formal decision body;
• The 9th JSCST decided to create a task-force on "Food Agriculture and Biotechnologies"
under the responsibility and co-chairing of
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Ms Maive RUTE, Director of
"Biotechnologies, Agriculture, Food" in the Research & Innovation Directorate General.
The task-force will first work on food safety and food security issues to implement
programme level cooperation;
• The 9th JSCST welcomed and supported the ongoing collaboration on new and renewable
energy and energy efficient technologies, under the Joint Statement signed in December
2010. The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Research & Innovation
DG encourage in particular SME participation in this cooperation. The first possibilities
for the twinning of projects in the area of Concentrated Solar Power are currently being
explored, with further topics to be considered for the years to come.
• It was agreed to explore the mutual interest for cooperation in the following areas, that
could lead to new task-forces:
o Innovation focusing on science parks, technology transfer, R&D cooperation
between SMEs.
o Funding approach for supporting large-scale programme-level cooperation including
dedicated funds to finance joint projects.
• Other areas for pursuing the exchange of information and experiences were discussed:
o Evaluation and monitoring systems
o Research Infrastructures
• The next JSCST in China will assess the newly launched approach. The presence of the
main EU and China research actors concerned should be ensured for this meeting.
Annex 4
Annex 5