In the course of the ReConnect China project, ZSI started a more intensive dialogue with R&I institutions from China. We consider these dialogues particularly important given the geopolitical circumstances that are strained. Meetings with Chinese scholars are always useful to find a common language and joint understanding about the most critical debates that impact on international cooperation in science, technology and innovation today. ZSI, which developed a solid research security expertise over the past two years and continues doing research on the topic as part of its current project portfolio, shares a high interest in reconnecting scientific actors for partnerships of mutual benefit based on jointly agreed principles. We believe that rebuilding trust, such as in the case of EU-China R&I cooperation, would also be a means to an end to limit risks of research security in this bilateral constellation.
Since 2023, ZSI received representatives of three Chinese institutions to commence dialogues in view of pursuing this goal. The Chinese Academy of Sciences visited ZSI in 2023 and the Open University of China in 2024. The most recent visit took place on Monday, September 22, when Prof. Wei Shen, who is Qiushi Distinguished Chair Professor in the Department of Political Science at Zhejiang University, Vice-President of Europe Asia Centre in Brussels and Editor-in-Chief of the Asia Europe Journal (Springer), exchanged his views with Gábor Szüdi, Klaus Schuch and Philipp Brugner.
