The world’s largest radio telescope, a lunar rover on the dark side of the moon, an international ethical scandal caused by gene-editing of human embryos: Science in the People’s Republic of China has gained unprecedented global visibility. China’s rise as a global science hub has been fueled by its international engagement, including with partners from the European Union (EU). Chinese universities and science organizations are pursuing excellence in research, and have become ever more embedded in the global system of science. At the same time, they are situated in the country’s legal and socioeconomic frameworks, adhering to the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party.
This project examines the dynamics of joint research between Europe and China against the backdrop of China's strategic ambition to lead in science, technology, and higher education. Over the last three decades, the EU and some European countries have developed political dialogues and science diplomacy tools in China, as well as bottom-up research initiatives, ranging from cooperative projects and funding programs to joint laboratories and research institutes. Across Europe, much of this engagement is now increasingly being reevaluated as risky, marking a significant shift from previous global dynamics of research collaboration. The project investigates how Europe’s approach to academic collaboration with China has developed both by researchers (European academics in China) and organizations (Sino-European joint labs and institutes) to see how scientists and scientific practices in different fields have shaped European collaboration with China, and conversely, how academia has been shaped by the policy environment surrounding research collaboration.
“Innovate with the Party!” In Shenzhen, a man plays with his phone with a large propaganda poster in the background.
Source: Halldór Berg Harðarson (2019)
