Concluding Seminar of the “Advance EU Access to Financial Incentives for Innovation in China”

2017-12-14 | Beijing, Shanghai

As the supporting organisation of the EU funded project “Advance EU Access to Financial Incentives for Innovation in China”, representatives of the European Chamber's R&D and ICT Working Groups participated in the concluding seminar of the 18 months long research project. 

Mr Laurent Bochereau, Head of S&T Section of EU Delegation to China opened the seminar by giving his welcoming remarks and by highlighting ongoing EU-China collaborations. He stressed the recently announced Horizon 2020 Work Programme, the biggest EU research and innovation program, as well as Chinese government funded international research collaboration opportunities in China. His remarks were followed by an introductory speech by Mr Carlo D’Andrea, Vice President and Chairman of the Shanghai Board of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, who pointed out that the European businesses can play an important role in achieving China's industrial ambitions. In this regard, the European Chamber has been advocating for a greater encouragement of foreign-invested enterprises to make a contribution to the Chinese innovation environment.

Afterwards, Mr Zhao Huilin, Deputy Director General of the Shanghai International Science & Technology Exchange Center gave a presentation on Shanghai’s new science, technology and innovation strategy, and the opportunities for European actors in its international programmes. Mr Liu Gang, Vice General Manager of Shanghai Zhangjiang Biotech & Pharmaceutical Base Development, and Vice President and Secretary of Shanghai Pudong Bio Industry Association, described the measures Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park has in place to support and protect innovation in the Hi-tech park.

The final results of the project were presented by the project manager, Mr Alessio Petino, including a guide for EU stakeholders on national Science and Technology funding programmes. The results show that different degrees of transparency exist at different states and in different funding programs. Moreover, some programs tend to be more open and accessible than others. However, opportunities in China exist but a low awareness of them in Europe results in very low international participation. The Guide for EU stakeholders introduces the five main funding programmes of the Chinese national funding system for research and innovation, explaining the rules for international participation, and recommendations for European stakeholders. 

A panel discussion on specific cases of successful application to Chinese funding programmes was conducted by six European and Chinese experts and resulted in concrete recommendations on how to increase the quality and success rate of the scientific research funding applications. Cases presented included: the EU-China Co-Funding Mechanism, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the “1000 Talents Plan”, State Key Laboratories, National Key R&D Programmes, as well as other industry-university international cooperation projects.