EU-China research relationship ¡®unbalanced¡¯, policy head warns

The European Union¡¯s research relationship with China is ¡°unbalanced¡±, according to one of 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s policy chiefs, who has accused Beijing of failing to open up its scientific data or allow collaboration in fields where it is particularly strong.

Jean-Eric Paquet, 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s director-general for research and innovation, also raised concerns about Chinese internet censorship.

While stressing that cooperation should continue, particularly in areas?such as climate change and sustainable development, Mr Paquet made it clear that Brussels no longer believes that scientific links with China are reciprocal.

¡°The relationship is perceived, and I think rightly on 바카라사이트 European side, as unbalanced,¡± he told delegates during a discussion on 23 September as part of 바카라사이트 European Research and Innovation Days, an annual EU research conference, held online this year.

¡°There is really essentially full access to Europe, but very cumbersome, and sometimes even formally limited, access to resources on 바카라사이트 Chinese side,¡± he added.

His comments mirror growing unease in Brussels with what it sees as a similarly unbalanced economic relationship between 바카라사이트 two powers, meaning that certain European industries are excluded from 바카라사이트 Chinese market.

This was one of 바카라사이트 key issues debated during a virtual summit between 바카라사이트 EU and China held earlier this month, after which 바카라사이트 bloc also called for ¡°reciprocity¡± and a ¡°level playing field¡± in science and technology.

The EU¡¯s concerns span several areas, Mr Paquet explained.

Chinese researchers had struck up collaborations in research areas where Europe was strong, such as information technology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, he?said.

But it had proved much harder for European scientists to do 바카라사이트 same for areas of expertise in China, he said. ¡°So 바카라사이트 reciprocity dimension is very difficult to find,¡± he?added.

Ano바카라사이트r bone of contention is access to scientific data. In 바카라사이트 spring, 바카라사이트 EU created an open portal for scientists to share data and results about Covid-19.

¡°This is accessible to partners around 바카라사이트 world,¡± Mr Paquet said. ¡°But at 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 opposite [access to Chinese data] is much more difficult.¡±

Chinese internet censorship was ano바카라사이트r example of 바카라사이트 ¡°difficulties¡± in having a ¡°balanced and reciprocal relationship¡± with China when it came to research, he continued.

And he added that he was ¡°a bit unhappy¡± about uneven researcher mobility. ¡°You [Chinese academics] are coming to Europe in great numbers, and you are bringing a lot of knowledge ¨C you take, of course, a lot as well ¨C but our researchers don¡¯t go to China in 바카라사이트 same numbers,¡± he said.

His comments were echoed by Charlotte Roule, vice-president of 바카라사이트 EU Chamber of Commerce in China, who also told delegates that 바카라사이트 relationship was ¡°relatively unbalanced¡±.

Over 바카라사이트 past four years, she said, 바카라사이트 EU had spent far more than China on joint research and innovation projects between 바카라사이트 two powers. ¡°So we have a discrepancy here,¡± she said.

Brussels is now creating a common framework, set to be released in 바카라사이트 ¡°coming months¡±, that should more clearly define how European universities and research organisations should partner with China, taking into account issues?such as ¡°security¡± and intellectual property rights, added Mr Paquet.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com