Visit of Philippe Busquin,Commissioner for Research of EC, to China 2 China-EU Co-operation Workshop on Home Networks & Platforms 3 "Seminar on China-France Joint Application for IST Projects in FP6" Held in Beijing 4 Capacity Building of CECO Staff Training in the European Commission 4 CECO's Visit and Training in Europe 5 Visit to CECO by the Expert Group for the Impact Assessment of China-EU Science & Technology Agreement 6 FP6 Information Days 6 Joint Application for FP6 by CECO and Relevant Organizations 6 The Enlargement of the European Union: United in Diversity 7 New Calls for Proposals Published by the EC 7 Participation in the 6 th China High-Tech Fair in Shenzhen 8 China-Greece Workshop on Joint Application for FP6 to be Held in Greece 8 1
Visit of Philippe Busquin,Commissioner for Research of EC, to China At the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Mr. Philippe Busquin, European Commissioner for Research, paid an official visit to China between 6 and 11 April 2004. Prof. Xu Guanhua, Minister of MOST, and Commissioner Busquin had an official meeting on 7 April and signed a Joint Declaration on the Enhancement of Science and Technology Co-operation between China and the European Union (EU) in Beijing. Both parties shared the view that science and technology will play a key role for the economic and social development in China and EU. They expressed their willingness to strengthen the partnership between relevant Chinese and European institutions and to enlarge the existing co-operation framework. Both sides value highly the fruitful and successful co-operation between China and the EU in the field of Science and Technology. This cooperation was enlarged in terms of forms and range with the signing of the China-EU Science and Technology Agreement in 1998. Over 100 cooperative scientific research projects have been initiated in the fields of biotechnology, information society technologies, environment, energy, food safety, etc. Both sides are specifically pleased with the research collaboration on SARS where 8 joint projects should contribute to understanding the disease and better controlling future health situations. Both 2
sides will continue to give strong support to the China- EU Science and Technology Agreement and explore co-operation in new areas, such as space technology application, hydrogen energy, fusion energy, life sciences (new diseases and AIDS), policies on science and technology intellectual property, etc. To promote the exchange of China-EU science and technology development strategy, both sides agreed to hold a forum on science and technology policy and strategy in 2005 in China. Both sides agreed to establish a High Level Steering Group on China-EU Space Technology Application Cooperation under the framework of the China- EU Science and Technology Agreement,. As an important component of Mr. Busquin's visit to China, MOST, China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Directorate-General for Research (DG Research) of the European Commission (EC), and the European Space Agency (ESA) jointly held the "High Level Workshop on China-EU Space Collaboration" on 7 April 2004 in Beijing to promote collaboration and communication in the field of space between China and EU. Besides, Commissioner Busquin made a presentation on European research policy and the EU Science and Technology Framework Program in Tsinghua University. During his stay in China, Commissioner Busquin also visited Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), China National Space Administration (CNSA), universities and research institutes in Wuhan and Hefei, including Tokamak in Hefei Institute of Plasma Physics of CAS. China-EU Co-operation Workshop on Home Networks & Platforms Workshop on Home Networks & Platforms Sponsored by MOST and the Directorate-General for Information Society (DG INFSO) of the EC,CECO and French Sigma Consultants jointly organized the Workshop on Home Networks & Platforms on 27 April 2004 in Beijing. About 60 government officials, experts and scientists from China and the EU attended the workshop, exchanging ideas on "ehome" technology and discussing joint participation in the EU's Sixth Framework Program (FP6). 3
"Seminar on China-France Joint Application for IST Projects in FP6" Held in Beijing "Seminar on China-France Joint Application for IST Projects in FP6" Held in Beijing As one of a series of promotional activities for FP6 collaboration between China and France, organised by MOST, CAS, the Embassy of France in China, and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the "Seminar on China-France Joint Application for IST Project in FP6" was held on 14 June 2004 in the Institute of Automation of CAS (CASIA). Dr. Ma Songde, Vice Minister of MOST, delivered a welcome speech. Dr. Bai Chunli, Vice President of CAS, made a keynote speech on China's research in nanosciences. About one hundred experts and relevant officials from China and France attended the seminar. The Science Counsellor of the EU Delegation in China and officials from MOST introduced FP6 and IT research in Chinese "863" Program respectively. Participants introduced related projects and collaboration proposals on IT and nanotechnologies in FP6, and discussed possibilities in cooperation between China and France, including joint application by Sino-French organizations for FP6 and joint participation by both sides in projects of Chinese "863" and "973" Programs. After the seminar, the French experts group visited Peking University, Institute of Software of CAS, Institute of Computing Technology of CAS, and Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology of CAS, discussing with relevant Chinese experts. Capacity Building of CECO Staff Training in the European Commission 4
tion for Chinese institutes and researchers, help institutes from China and Europe find research partners, two staff members of CECO were sent to the EC in Feb. 2004 in accordance with the Contract between CECO and the DG Research of EC. During the training, CECO discussed deeply with relevant officials of the DG Research, the DG INFSO, and the Directorate-General for Energy and Transport (DG TREN), and in particular exchanged ideas on CECO's new proposals to To further understand the content, cooperative forms and project management of FP6, provide better consulting service and guidance in proposal prepara- FP6 and joint promotion to the participation of Chinese institutes in FP6, and discussed issues on website linkage between CECO and CORDIS. CECO's Visit and Training in Europe To promote China-EU science and technology cooperation by strengthening the collaboration with relevant organizations in EU Member States, and to provide better consulting service to Chinese institutes and researchers by learning from these relevant organizations' experience in FP6 project management and coordination, and their role as National Contact Point (NCP), three CECO staff members paid a visit to Europe in May 2004 at the invitation of the French Ministère délégué à la Recherche, the Italian Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE), and the Austrian Bureau for International Research and Technology Cooperation (BIT). CECO exchanged ideas on broad issues with relevant organizations in these three countries during the visit, including cooperative possibilities in joint participation in FP6. 5
Visit to CECO by the Expert Group for the Impact Assessment of China-EU Science & Technology Agreement The Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the European Communities was signed in Brussels on 22 Dec. 1998. According to the Agreement, both sides need to assess the implementation of the Agreement. The Assessment Group of four experts from China and EU paid visits to Beijing, Nanjing, Wuhan, investigating the implications and impact of the Agreement. The Assessment Group reviewed CECO work report, and highly commended the CECO's positive and effective work. FP6 Information Days Since the FP6 was launched, a number of FP6 Information Days were held in many cities and provinces by CECO together with the International Cooperation Dept. of MOST and the EU Delegation in China to introduce and disseminate information on FP6. The expected effect was reached as great interest in the calls of FP6 was aroused among Chinese researchers with increasing number of applications. More FP6 Information Days are to be organised in response to the needs of relevant cities and provinces in the latter half of this year. Joint Application for FP6 by CECO and Relevant Organizations Joint proposals by CECO and relevant organizations in EU Member States in the first half year of 2004 are: Second submission of a FP6 proposal on "Food Safety and Quality" with other five organizations, such as Italian APRE, Austrian BIT, French ANVAR, Chilean EUROCHILI, etc. Joint proposal on INCO with Austrian BIT Joint proposal on REHA-CT with China Agricultural University and Greek NTUA 6
The Enlargement of the European Union: United in Diversity 1 May 2004 saw the unprecedented enlargement of the European Union: 10 new Member States joined the existing fifteen ones, which is the first time in the history of the European Union to accept as many as ten new comers at a time. This contributes to the EU now with a population of 455,000,000 and covering an area of 4,000,000 km 2. New Calls for Proposals Published by the EC The DG Research of the European Commission (EC) published the new calls for proposals of FP6 on CORDIS (www.cordis.lu) in mid June 2004. Compared with previous calls, the new call has in particular the following features: 1.Broader research areas The new calls cover all priority areas except nuclear research, in particular in life sciences, information technology, nano-sciences, energy, etc. Furthermore, the "Marie Curie" Mobility Program offers a lot of opportunities for Chinese young scientists to work and study in European research organizations. 2.Shorter application period In the new calls, deadlines of most research areas will be in September or October 2004. Chinese research institutes and scientists interested in participation are encouraged to take immediate actions to search and contact European partners for the preparation of proposals. In the Sixth Framework Program, the EC continues its support to the participation of third countries in INCO projects. In the 7 thematic priorities, the Commission could also fund the partners from the third countries like China. Besides, SSA (Specific Support Action) prevails in a couple of areas in the new calls and provides opportunities for S&T communication activities between Europe and third countries, such as holding scientific workshops, stimulating cross-border mobility between high-level researchers, etc. For more information on the new calls, please see www.ceco.org.cn and www.cordis.lu/fp6/calls for detailed information. 7
Participation in the 6 th China High-Tech Fair in Shenzhen The Sixth China High-Tech Fair is to take place from 12 to 17 Oct. 2004 in Shenzhen. CECO and the EU Delegation in China will continue to participate in the Fair to display China- EU cooperative projects in science and technology and disseminate the information on the fruitful results and the future collaboration. China-Greece Workshop on Joint Application for FP6 to be Held in Greece To promote joint participation in FP6 by organizations from China and Greece, exchange ideas on China-Greece S&T cooperation policies, experiences and information, and discuss China-Greece joint application for FP6 projects, the "China-Greece Workshop on Joint Application for FP6" was held on 24 Nov. 2003 in Beijing. Encouraged by both sides, the second workshop will be held in the fourth quarter of 2004 in Greece. 8