Recently the ReConnect China project of which the ENLIGHT partner universities Ghent University, University of Tartu, and University of Groningen are member has been selected for funding under the Horizon Europe framework (HORIZON-CL2-2021-TRANSFORMATIONS-01-07).
‘ReConnect China: Upgrading independent Knowledge on Contemporary China in Europe’ will start from November 2022 and run for 3 years. It is coordinated by Ghent University, Belgium, and aims to answer the question in which domains collaboration of the EU with China is desirable, possible or impossible. As such, this project aligns with the document EU-China – A strategic outlook (Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council, Strassbourg, 2019).
The question in which domains EU collaboration with China is desirable, possible, or impossible starts from the acknowledgment that in the modern geopolitical and geo-economic world, the EU and China stand in a perpetual dynamic relationship with each other. This project therefore identifies the following key fields on which the EU should upgrade its independent knowledge: Science & Technology, Economy & Trade, Domestic Governance, and Foreign Policy. To carry out this project, a database which will provide access to new sources of information will be developed. The independent knowledge that will be generated in this project will bring together stakeholders and experts in a Europe-China Knowledge Forum. The project also envisages to enhance awareness on China among the general public and youth.
In order to generate a deeper, sustainable understanding of contemporary China and to build a resilient future with China for the EU and its citizens, leading scientific European expertise and innovative digital technologies are mobilized. The ‘ReConnect China’ project more precisely brings together the following 15 partners: CCCM – Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre (PT), Clingendael – Netherlands Institute of International Relations (NL), Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations (BE), Ideella Foreningar Utrikespolitiska Institutet (SE), Innovasjon Norge (NO), Institut Français des Relations Internationales (FR), Istituto Affari Internazionali (IT), Fundacion Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estrategicos (ES), Universiteit Gent (BE), Universiteit Groningen (NL), University of Tartu (EE), University of Turku (FI), Universität Wien (AT), Univerzita Palackeho v Olomouci (CZ), and Zentrum für Soziale Innovation GMBH (AT).
For more information, please contact project leader Prof. Bart Dessein or Saskia Van den Broeck