Research security was high on the agenda of the outgoing European Commission as evidenced by a series of policy documents, most notably in the Economic Security Strategy package put forward in May 2024. Research security can only be effective if policy is translated into practical solutions through easy-to-use tools, balancing openness and safety.
This policy brief aims to draw practical conclusions and provide recommendations on how to support researchers aiming to collaborate with China in light of the ongoing policy debate on research security. The recommendations are based on the main findings of an online survey conducted with 24 Austrian scientists on the topic of research security in the context of cooperation with China.
The results of the survey show a fundamental lack of knowledge about research security related terms, as well as on the current policy strategies and recommendations shaping the research collaboration between the EU and China. There is an urgent need for support measures in assessing the security risks associated with potential Chinese partners, including dual-use aspects.
Even though responses were gathered from very diverse scientific fields, there seems to be a consensus among scientists who have already worked with Chinese partners that cooperation should continue but in a recalibrated way that ensures mutual benefits and transparent knowledge transfer and data use.
Policy recommendations:
- A more systematic, European-level data collection and analysis should be conducted on research security aspects in the context of cooperation with China;
- An in-depth discussion, facilitated and/or supervised by policy makers in charge of the topic on knowledge security, should be held at European, national, and university levels to recognise the risks associated to research cooperation with China and to inform the design of related policies for the three respective levels;
- Developing guidelines on how to effectively collaborate with China without worrying about ideas or technologies being ‘misused’ should be given to interested researchers and institutions;
- A European university tracker for China should be developed with the aim of assessing the research security risks associated with Chinese institutions;
- Decision-makers in each relevant scientific field should come to an agreement on how to subsequently cooperate with Chinese partners. Such future directions might also cover restrictive measures ideally applicable at the national or European level.
Whereas the latest EU Recommendation on research security in international cooperation from May 2024 includes proposals for similar initiatives, our recommendations are “China-specific”. We consider China a unique case for international research cooperation, requiring case-based information gathering and policy development to serve the needs of European researchers in tackling the complexities that arise when engaging in cooperation activities with their Chinese counterparts.
Stay tuned with us by reading more: Reconnect China_Policy Brief 12_Knowledge and Perception of Research Security