EU and China launch Science and Technology Year

Brussels, 11 October 2006

Today sees the launch of the China-EU Science and Technology year. Under the umbrella of the Year, activities will take place in China and the EU to promote co-operation across all fields of science and technology. These activities will include conferences, workshops, seminars, forums and exhibitions. The launch will take place during a policy forum in Brussels, where discussion will focus on current and future areas for co-operation such as health, energy, environment, food and biotechnology – all areas where there is mutual interest in co-operating. The Year is being launched by European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik and Chinese Vice-Minister for Science and Technology, Wu Zhongze.

“China is quickly becoming a major global player in science and technology. We face many of the same challenges for the future, and research can play a part in facing them,” said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik. “I hope that the China-Eu Science and Technology Year will increase awareness in China and the EU about the benefits of co-operation. This will usher in a new phase of our science and research relationship.”

Science and technology co-operation between China and the EU started in the late 1980s. An official science and technology co-operation agreement was signed in 1998 and renewed in 2004 following a positive review. Over 130 joint EU-China amounting to nearly €900 million in total project funding. The launch of the China-EU Science and Technology Year shows the intention of both regions to promote and enhance co-operation in this field, including ways to improve the mobility of researchers between the two economic areas. The EU and China are also working together in international research projects such as the ITER fusion energy project and the Galileo satellite system.

The Science and Technology year, which runs from October 2006 to September 2007, coincides with the adoption and start of the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme and the renewal of China’s 11 Year Plan, which has a strong focus on science and technology.

For more details on the joint S&T year, including a list of events, please visit: www.ec.europa.eu/cesty .

Item source: IP/06/1350 Date: 11/10/2006