The ENTRANCE regional conference held at the University of Bonn was a platform for exchanging valuable ideas around the increasing importance of China within global research networks. At the two-day conference, academics and research management experts discussed China as a location for research and as a partner country as well as how geopolitical developments are affecting universities around the world.
Last year, a joint workshop with the DAAD was held at the University of Bonn at which intensive dialogue on research partnerships with China took place. Professor Birgit Ulrike Münch, Vice Rector for International Affairs, expressed her approval of the University of Bonn now focusing squarely on these issues, commenting: “We are working hard at the University of Bonn to adapt and institutionally expand our ‘China competency’ in regard to research, teaching and administration. We are pleased at the many opportunities for cooperation, especially in the area of medicine, where we find challenges and opportunities in equal measure.” Conference discussions of a technical nature, concerning for example IT and data security, with a focus on medical research partnerships, may be instrumental in making partnerships stronger so as to better meet arising challenges going forward.
Digital security requirements and EU directives
The conference began with a broad look at the Chinese research system. The latest global initiatives and current developments were discussed as well as how to structure international academic cooperation with China in a risk-adequate, competency-based manner. At the conference, experts from a range of disciplines emphasized that in addition to opening up new possibilities, research cooperation with China involves particular requirements. One of the primary purposes of the event was thus to point out possibilities for frameworks that could promote successful partnership in a spirit of trust.
Importantly, the presentations were concerned with structuring international cooperation in view of ever more stringent digital security requirements. The experts attending extensively discussed the latest EU directives on network and information security and their implementation in Germany, pointing out how critical data protection and IT security are for international partnerships.
Discussion concluded with the observation that there needs to be a reliable, security-giving framework for international cooperation. Projects like JuHand (Jülich Research Security in International Cooperation) conducted by the Helmholtz Association are making important progress toward realizing partnership frameworks that are legally and technologically secure for conducting research.
Medical research partnerships with China
The second day of the conference was dedicated entirely to medical research, an area in which it became quite clear that cooperation with China holds tremendous potential for innovation and advancement. The attending experts also addressed potential regulatory challenges, particularly regarding the handling of patient data.
In a number of presentations as well as statements made by experts, conference-goers gained valuable insights into the legal framework that must be observed when working with Chinese partners. The point emerged that complex conditions unavoidably have to be dealt with in order to ensure ethically sound and legally secure research.
