China Science and Technology Newsletter

No. 6

Table of Contents

Special Issue: Latest Progress in International Science and Technology Cooperation

 

2nd China-Thailand Joint Committee Meeting on S&T Cooperation Held in Chiang Mai

2nd Working Group Meeting of China-Thailand TYSP Held in Chiang Mai

2nd China-EU Innovation Cooperation Dialogue Held in Brussels

Nordic-China Innovation Cooperation Forum & Nordic Science Park Launching Ceremony Held in Tianjin

Sixth Round of China-U.S. Innovation Dialogue Held in the U.S.

Working Group Meetings of China-Brazil High-level Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation and China-CELAC Scientific and Technological Innovation Forum Held in Brazil and Ecuador Respectively

Vice Minister Cao Jianlin Leads Delegation to 2nd BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting

 

 

l       China-ASEAN Cooperation

 

2nd China-Thailand Joint Committee Meeting on S&T Cooperation Held in Chiang Mai

On March 3, the 2nd China-Thailand Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on S&T Cooperation was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The meeting was attended by two delegations headed by Dr. Cao Jianlin, Vice Minister of MOST, China and Assoc. Prof. Weerapong Pairsuwan Permanent Secretary of MOST, Thailand. They signed the minutes of the meeting on behalf of the two ministries.

 

On the day before the meeting, relevant departments of the two countries held six working group meetings on China-Thailand Joint Research Center on High-speed Railway, Talented Young Scientist Visiting Program (TYSP), technology transfer, space technology, science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, and new and renewable energy. Progress was reviewed and work plans in 2015 were submitted for deliberation at the 2nd JCM. At the JCM meeting, both sides had candid discussions and reached agreement on a number of issues and brought about nearly 30 deliverables.

 

Vice Minister Cao said that since October 2013 when the two ministries signed the cooperation agreement and established the joint committee, the two sides have made remarkable progress. The preparatory office for the China-Thailand Joint Research Center on High-speed Railway has been put into operation. The Platform for Satellite Remote Sensing Data Sharing and Service has taken shape. Mechanisms for B2B meetings have been set up, and TYSP is going on smoothly. Meanwhile, the two sides have formed sound cooperative relationship and working mechanism. He added that bilateral cooperation has reached an unprecedented high level and enjoyed unprecedented opportunities.

 

Vice Minister Cao emphasized that expanding China-Thailand STI cooperation has important significance on promoting the economic and social development, progress of democracy, and friendly ties between the two countries. He hoped the two sides could implement annual work plans through close coordination in a pragmatic and efficient way and further enhance relevant mechanisms so as to give full scope to the role of the joint committee and its working groups and ensure concrete results.

 

Permanent Secretary Weerapong Pairsuwan said that the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology attaches great importance to the cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and will continue to support relevant projects for greater achievements of bilateral cooperation.

 (Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, March 24, 2015)

 

2nd Working Group Meeting of China-Thailand TYSP Held  in Chiang Mai

The 2nd Working Group Meeting of China-Thailand Talented Young Scientists Visiting Program (TYSP) was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand on March 3, 2015. In line with the requirements of the joint committee, China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC) and Thailand National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI), implementing agencies of China-Thailand TYSP, held the 2nd working group meeting on March 2, 2015.

 

At the meeting, the working group reviewed the achievements of 2014 and recognized the progress in mechanism building and arrangements for five young Thai scientists who worked and studied in China. The working group discussed the work plan in 2015 and reached agreement on further increasing the scope and scale of cooperation, expanding the platforms of cooperation, and establishing a supervision and evaluation mechanism. Dr. Wang Yan, Deputy Director General of CSTEC, and Mr. Kitipong, Executive Deputy Secretary General of STI, signed the minutes of the meeting.

 

After the meeting, the working group submitted a report to the 2nd China-Thailand Joint Committee Meeting on S&T Cooperation, and the report was annexed to the minutes of the JCM. In 2015, the working group will implement the action plan adopted at this meeting through closer communication to contribute to strengthened ties and friendship between the two countries.

 (Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, March 30, 2015)

 

l       China-Europe Cooperation

2nd China-EU Innovation Cooperation Dialogue Held in Brussels

On June 29, 2015, the 2nd China-EU Innovation Cooperation Dialogue was held in Brussels back-to-back with the 17^th China-EU Summit. The dialogue was co-chaired by Dr. Wan Gang, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, and Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and attended by nearly 80 high-level Chinese and EU officials, experts and business representatives. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker met with major representatives of the dialogue and took pictures with them.  

 

At the dialogue, both sides shared information on Chinese and European STI policies and strategies, exchanged opinions on SCI cooperation, listened to a report submitted by the expert group on the framework and good practices of China-Europe cooperation in innovation, and had discussion on facilitating future collaboration.

 

Both sides reaffirmed research and innovation as a driver of economic and social progress and an important component of China-EU relations. With highly compatible innovation strategies, both sides believed that open innovation is a trend in today's world, and China and EU will actively promote open innovation, encourage cross-border flow of innovation factors, foster the synergy among enterprises, universities and research institutes and create a sound environment for mass innovation and entrepreneurship. Both sides agreed to establish a joint funding mechanism on the basis of mutual benefit, further strengthen cooperation and exchange in scientific research, encourage innovation and starting of tech-based companies and expand pragmatic cooperation between China and EU in innovation.  

 

As a deliverable of the Innovation dialogue, both sides issued a joint statement and, under the witness of Premier Li Keqiang and President Jean-Claude Juncker, signed three agreements, including The Renewed Agreement on S&T Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the European Community, The Implementation Agreement on Accepting Chinese Researchers under European Research Council Funding between the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the European Commission, and The Letter of Intent between the Chinese Academy of Sciences-Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

 (Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, July 6, 2015)

 

Nordic-China Innovation Cooperation Forum and Nordic Science Park Launching Ceremony Held in Tianjin

On March 18, the Nordic-China Innovation Cooperation Forum & Nordic Science Park Launch Ceremony took place in Nordic Science Park in Binhai National Innovation Demonstration Zone in Tianjin. Senior diplomats from the Finnish, Swedish and Danish Embassies addressed the event. The event, consisting of a forum and a business fair, was attended by nearly 300 participants, including officials from the Torch Center under the Ministry of Science and Technology and Tianjin Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, diplomatic representatives of Nordic countries in China, entrepreneurs and researchers.

 

During the Nordic-China Innovation Cooperation Forum, Yang Yuecheng, Deputy Director General of the Torch Center, gave a snapshot of China's innovation-driven development strategy. He said that the establishment of the Nordic Science Park in Tianjin has great significance for promoting S&T exchange and cooperation between China and Nordic countries and hoped that the park will become a platform for attracting Nordic startups, bringing about innovation achievements, promoting sharing of resources, and enabling win-win cooperation.

 

The senior diplomatic representatives of Denmark, Sweden and Finland in China made presentations on S&T development in their countries and expressed the willingness to strengthen ties with Chinese government and enterprises.  

 

At the forum, representatives of S&T authorities, technology-based firms and organizations delivered keynote speeches, contributing ideas and suggestions to promoting China-Nordic cooperation in innovation based on introduction and digestion of advanced technologies, and accelerating Tianjin's innovation-driven development. The event also featured project roadshows and a fair, attended by nearly 80 Chinese and Nordic companies, with contracts signed for 12 projects on site.

 

During the forum, leaders and guests witnessed the official launch of the Nordic Science Park. The park, jointly established by Tianjin Technology Entrepreneurship Services Center and China-Scandinavia (Tianjin) Innovation Development Center, is committed to promoting exchange and cooperation between China and Nordic companies, universities, research institutes and governments in extensive fields including clean technology, life science and technology, information technology and creative design. Till now, nearly 20 Nordic companies have expressed their intention to settle in the park. In addition to holding various events including China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition Nordic Leg, the park has signed preliminary agreements to establish incubators in Turku Science Park in Finland and Lund University in Sweden. The park is expected to accommodate over one hundred leading Nordic companies in the coming three years and become a demonstration base for innovation through introduction of technologies and promoting Tianjin's innovation-driven development.

 (Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, March 27, 2015)

 

l       China-U.S. Cooperation

Sixth Round of China-U.S. Innovation Dialogue Held in the U.S.

On June 22, 2015, the Sixth Round of China-U.S. Innovation Dialogue was held in Washington D.C., which was co-chaired by Dr. Wan Gang, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, and Dr. John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Governmental, industrial and academic representatives of both sides attended the dialogue and delivered speeches.

 

In his address, Minister Wan Gang said that the Chinese government is implementing the innovation-driven development strategy by putting S&T innovation at the core of China's overall development strategy and has introduced a series of reform measures including 1) promoting translation of research findings and fostering an enabling environment for innovation; 2) optimizing S&T resource allocation for economic development; and 3) increasing policy support for mass entrepreneurship and mass innovation. He said that in today's globalized world, no country can address S&T innovation issues without international cooperation and China and the U.S. should strengthen ties on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes to benefit our peoples and contribute to the new type of major power relationship.  

 

Dr. John Holdren introduced that the U.S. government will release its new innovation strategy at the end of this year, including 1) increasing investment in innovation factors, emphasizing basic research, S&T engineering and mathematical education and development of S&T talent and infrastructures; 2) emphasizing market-based innovation, encouraging innovation in the private sector, and accelerating industrialization of R&D achievements; and 3) promoting technology breakthroughs in priority areas, including precision medicine, advanced manufacturing and smart city. He said that the U.S. expects to deepen and expand SCI cooperation with China in fields of common interest.

 

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on a number of issues including S&T innovation policy and strategy, inter-firm cooperation on R&D, fostering of innovation ecosystem, innovation-enabling public policy, technology transfer and licensing, intellectual property protection, emerging technologies and standards, and entrepreneurial talent development. The U.S. side advocates 1) encouraging innovation by formulating and implementing tax incentives and increasing the income of R&D personnel; 2) establishing the connection between intellectual property protection and innovation and increasing tolerance of innovation failures to lower the risk of innovation and entrepreneurship; 3) improving the quality of patents to promote their conversion and strengthening law enforcement on patent infringement; and 4) jointly formulating uniform technical standards to promote innovation in standards. The Chinese side advocates 1) establishing an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship and implementing relevant incentive policies to promote mass entrepreneurship and mass innovation; 2) recognizing intellectual properties as the foundation of S&T innovation, balancing the interests among innovators, rights owners and the public while protecting intellectual properties, and avoiding IP infringement; 3) maintaining innovation momentum through competition and striving for mutual benefits through cooperation; and 4) recognizing that standards are the technological basis of industrial development, that regulations are the foundation to ensure reasonable allocation of market resources and fair and orderly market competition, and that innovation is a key driver of economic growth.

 

Through this round of innovation dialogue, the two sides reached important agreement on high-tech company accreditation, intellectual property rights and smart city/urban intelligent infrastructure. The deliverables were submitted to the Seventh China-U.S. Strategic & Economic Dialogue.

 (Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, July 8, 2015)

 

l       China-Latin America Cooperation

Working Groups Meet for China-Brazil High-level SCI Dialogue and and China-CELAC SCI Forum

MOST sent a working group to Brazil and Ecuador in March, 2015 to prepare for China-Brazil High-level Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation (SCI) and China-CELAC Forum on SCI to be held respectively in the two countries.

 

In Brasilia, the Chinese delegation discussed with officials from Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation on the 2nd China-Brazil High-Level SCI Dialogue. The two sides finalized main topics of the upcoming high-level dialogue, including new energy and new material, agriculture and food safety, information technology and the Internet, and innovation platform and environment.

 

In Quito, the Chinese delegation had discussions with representatives of Ecuador's National Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation on the first China-CELAC SCI Forum scheduled to be held in Ecuador this September, with the main topics on innovation ecosystem, green development, biodiversity, technology transfer, and business success based on innovation. An exhibition on China's SCI achievements will be held back-to-back with the Forum in Ecuador.

 (Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, April 15, 2015)

 

l       China Attends BRICS Meeting

Vice Minister Cao Jianlin Attends 2nd BRICS SCI Ministerial

On March 18, 2015, the 2nd BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting was held in Brasilia, in accordance with The Fortaleza Declaration issued during the sixth BRICS summit in Brazil in July 2014. Vice Minister of Science and Technology Cao Jianlin led the Chinese delegation to the meeting and delivered a keynote speech, in which he briefed the delegates of other BRICS countries on China's innovation-driven development strategy, S&T system reform and relevant policies and measures geared to drive the integration of SCI with economic and social development and offered food for thought on carrying out pragmatic cooperation on science, technology and innovation among BRICS countries.

 

At the meeting, delegates listened to country reports on SCI activities and cooperation and discussed the 2015-2018 BRICS S&T innovation work plan and the proposal to establish a Young Scientist Forum. At the end of the meeting, The Brasília Declaration was issued, in which BRICS members reaffirmed the central role of SCI in promoting inclusive economic growth and addressing environmental challenges. The modalities of cooperation include sharing information on SCI policies and strategies and launching long-term problem-oriented cooperation programs. It was also agreed that the next ministerial meeting would be held in Russia in October 2015. At the Brasilia meeting, BRICS member countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation, to set up a strategic framework for SCI cooperation.

 

During his stay in Brazil, Vice Minister Cao Jianlin held separate meetings with Álvaro Prata, Executive Secretary of Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Naledi Pandor, South Africa's Minister of Science and Technology.

Background:

The BRICS is an important cooperation mechanism of emerging countries. Recent years have seen the deepening of cooperation among BRICS member countries, which have formed multi-tiered cooperation mechanisms in different fields spearheaded by leaders' summits and supplemented by high-level meetings of relevant ministries.

 

According to The Sanya Declaration released after the third meeting of BRICS leaders in 2011, MOST convened the first BRICS Senior Official Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation in China, followed by its second, third and fourth sessions in India (2012), South Africa (2013) and Brazil (2014). These meetings have determined 19 priority areas of cooperation, including sharing of policy and project information, promotion of innovation and technology transfer, new energy and renewable energy, energy efficiency, medicine and biotechnology, high-tech zones/science parks and incubators, geospatial technology, aerospace, space exploration, astronomy and earth observation, and food security and sustainable agriculture. The first BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting was held in Cape Town in South Africa in February 2014.

 

 (Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, April 9, 2015)