Ministry paves way for better China-EU ties in science, technology

The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has published the first call for proposals under the EU-China Co-Funding Mechanism (CFM) for Research and Innovation, paving the way for deepened cooperation between European and Chinese research and innovation stakeholders.

This first call launched on December 16 will enable China-based entities that are part of successful proposals under the Horizon 2020 2014/15 work program and submitted proposals to the Horizon 2020 2016 work program to apply for co-funding from MoST. MoST has set aside a yearly budget of 200 million yuan (nearly €30 million) for the EU-China Co-Funding Mechanism until 2020.

This call is a follow-up of the political agreement reached at the EU-China Summit in Brussels on June 29 and the operational conclusions of the 12th EU China Joint Steering Committee Meeting on S&T Cooperation (JSCST) held in Beijing on October 30.

The EU China Co-funding Mechanism (CFM) will enable China-based entities that are successfully evaluated in Horizon 2020 proposals to receive co-funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Horizon 2020 Work Program 2016/2017 has been published on October 14, 2015, and offers numerous opportunities for researchers and innovators from all over the world supporting cutting edge research and development projects across the entire cycle from research to innovation (Horizon 2020 Participant Portal).

The first CFM call will provide funds for mainland China-based participants in the areas of agriculture (including food), biotechnologies, ICT, space, aviation, energy, health, transport, water resources, energy saving and emission reduction, advanced manufacturing, new materials, sustainable urbanization, and exchange of young scientists. In practice, all topics under the Horizon 2020 'Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies', 'Societal Challenges (except the Security one)', 'Future and Emerging Technologies', 'Research Infrastructures' and 'Research and Innovation Staff Exchange' as well as the Euratom Nuclear Energy topics are expected to be eligible for the CFM.

A second call is expected to be published later in 2016 to cover Horizon 2020 deadlines posterior to July 31, 2016.