EU-China research cooperation in the spotlight at World Expo Shanghai

The EU-China Science and Technology Week starts today at the heart of World Expo Shanghai. The European Commission event, which will be officially opened tomorrow at the EU Pavilion by Director-General for Research José Manuel Silva Rodríguez and Chinese Vice-minister of Science and Technology Cao Jianlin, will explore new scientific collaboration between the EU and China. More than 500 leading scientists, journalists, and representatives of industry, academia and government from the European Union and China will share knowledge, experience and aspirations for a “Better City, Better Life”. Through its “Science in the City” Programme, the EU-China Science and Technology Week will also bring science to the Chinese public with entertaining events at the Shanghai Science Hall.

From 15 to 18 June at the EU pavilion, a programme of science policy sessions, scientific workshops and media briefings will allow participants to showcase joint achievements, exchange success stories and explore new opportunities for cooperation between European and Chinese research organisations, focusing on the World Expo's theme of “Better City, Better Life”.

In particular, more than 30 star research projects involving European and Chinese partners and working on the most important topics of our time (urban research, climate change, energy, transport, health, food, knowledge-sharing, etc.) will be presented to the media on 16 June at the EU pavilion.

On 18 June, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and its Chinese Partners, including the China Atomic Energy Agency and the Chinese Academy of Science will present joint EU-China research activities on nuclear safety and security, as well as advanced technologies for disaster risk mitigation and response.

In parallel, free events open to all will take place at the Shanghai Science Hall from 14 to 19 June. These include science cafés with renowned European and Chinese scientists, a festival of award-winning European science films and a physics and laser show by Lund University from Sweden.

Background

The EU-China Science and Technology Week builds on the existing work done together by the EU and China, particularly through the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement which was signed in 1998 and renewed for another five-year period on 30 November 2009 in Nanjing.

In the first three years of the EU's 7th Framework Programme for Research (FP7, 2007-2013), 145 Chinese researchers have been selected for European Commission funding, placing China in third position after the USA and Russia.

The Joint Research Centre, which is the European Commission's own research arm, is working together with Chinese partners on nuclear safety. It also cooperates with Chinese research bodies and government authorities on the development and use of technologies for disaster management, such as the use of remote sensing for damage assessment during the Wen Chuan earthquake in 2008.

The EU-China Science and Technology Week is one of the thematic events organised by the European Commission at the EU Pavilion. It is the first time the EU has been represented at a World Expo outside Europe. Under the theme ‘Intelligent Europe’, the EU Pavilion's permanent exhibition is presenting the EU to the public.