Name: ENTRANCE-Conference - Lessons Learned: Navigating Experiences from Sino-European Cooperation for Future Global Engagements
Start: 2025-07-07
Location: RWTH Aachen University

Legal notice

On July 7–8, 2025, RWTH Aachen University will host the ENTRANCE conference titled “Lessons Learned: Navigating Experiences from Sino-European Cooperation for Future Global Engagements.”

The aim of this conference is to highlight key insights and unresolved questions arising from collaborations with Chinese institutions. We will explore lessons learned from past experiences that could inform future international cooperation in education and research beyond China.

To foster meaningful exchange, the conference will be held in person, providing ample opportunities for dialogue among academics, practitioners, and policymakers on the evolving landscape of international cooperation in higher education and research, with a particular emphasis on China.

We look forward to your participation in the conference. Registration is possible by email: entrance@jara.org

Programme

Monday, July 7, 2025

	Moderator: Dr. Gerold Heinrichs, Head of Department Asia, Oceania DLR-PT
09:30	Presentation of ENTRANCE, introduction to the conference, organizational remarks
09:45	Welcome address by Dr. Renata Ch. Feldmann, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) Dr. Norbert Drewes, Head of Corporate Developement, Forschungszentrum Jülich
10:00	Opening Presentation/Keynote 'Conditions for sustainable EU-China collaboration recent study for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Prof. Marijk van der Wende Utrecht University, Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance
10:30	Presentation ‘Unfolding science diplomacy: How is Germany implementing research security policies in scientific collaborations with China?’ Nicolas Rüffin University College London & Universität Bonn
10:45	Panel Discussion Prof. Marijk van der Wende + Nicolas Rüffin
	‘Academia Without Autonomy? Re-assessing Ethical Concerns and Safeguards in Europe-China Research and Educational Collaboration’ Dr. Cong-Rui Qiao Law4Sustainability, Netherlands Peter Gill ‘Peter’s Perspective’; formerly Senior Policy Advisor China at Delft University of Technology
12:00	Lunch Break - Walk & Talk
	Moderator: Dr. Agota Revesz, International Cooperation Officer (focus China) at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
	Presentations
14:00	‘The rise of China in bioscience, and its impact on the relationship between bioethics and the law in EU Member-States’ Prof. Simona Novaretti University of Turin, Department of Law
14:30	‘Sino-European Biotechnology Collaboration: Legal Risks, Dependency, and Dispute Resolution in a Shifting Regulatory Landscape’ Anna Maria Rizzo University of Silesia, Faculty of Law
15:00	Coffee Break
15:30	Panel Discussion “EU-China-Experiences”

	Germany: ‘Cultural understanding or strategic de-risking? A retrospective analysis of the German government’s ‘China Competence’ funding policy from 2015-2024’ Prof. Dr. Xun Luo Uni Giessen, Chair of Intercultural Communication and Business (ICB) Romania: ‘Echoes Across Empires: Navigating Sino-Romanian Knowledge Production in the Shadow of Global Powers’ Wang Jiong Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Italy: ‘The Galileo Galilei Italian Institute experience in Chongqing’ Marco Bonaglia Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies Pisa Portugal: 'Policy Recommendations and their Outcomes in Sino- European Health Projects: the Cases of SENET and IC-PerMed’ Anabela Santiago University of Aveiro, Department of Social, Political and Territorial Science Poland: ‘Polish-Chinese Academic Cooperation: A Case Study of the SHENG Grant’ Joanna Nawrotkiewicz University of Łódź, Political Science
17:30	Closing of the first conference day

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

	Moderator: Dr. Sigrun Abels, Director of the Center for Cultural Studies on Science and Technology in China at TU Berlin
09:00	Opening Presentation/Keynote ’Interpretation of Chinese mediation efforts during the Russian aggression against Ukraine’ Asso. Prof. Dmytro Yefremov Uppsala University, Department of Government
09:45	Keynote ‘International scientific collaboration amid geopolitical tensions: A comparative country study of securitization responses’ Asso. Prof. Tommy Shih Lund University, Department of Business Administration
10:30	Coffee Break
10:30	Panel Discussion - „Too cautious or not cautious enough?”

	‘How can German researchers get the information they need to make decisions about their partnerships with China?: Making the case for a federal contact point for research security’ Michael Laha German Council on Foreign Relations ‘Addressing blind spots in Sino-German science diplomacy through autocracy competence’ Asso. Prof. Dr. Andreas Fulda University of Nottingham; Prof. Dr. Alicia Hennig TU Dresden/IHI Zittau ‘Understanding China’s Approach to Scientific and Technological Cooperation with Europe: Implications for European Research and Innovation’ Dr. Carsten Schäfer Universität zu Köln, Institute of East Asian Studies - Modern Chinese Studies
12:15	Lunch Break
	Moderator: N.N.
13:15	Panel Discussion - „Learnings“

	‘Navigating the Complexities of the China Scholarship Council: Policy Gaps and Implications for Sino-European Collaborations’ Anastasia Kostronima Universität Würzburg, Chinese Studies/KoWinChi ’EU-China Relations: Fragmented Institutionalism and Rising Neorealism’ Prof. Jing Men East China Normal University ‘Lessons (not) Learned? What Experiences from Engaging with China have (not) Taught us for Engaging with India’ Dr. Fabian Falter Strategic India Activities, RWTH Aachen 'Confucius Institutes—Strategic Asset or Institutional Liability?’ Asso. Prof. Dr. Bogdan Zemanek Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Institute of Far and Middle Eastern Studies
15:00	Coffee Break
15:30	Panel Discussion - „Wrap-Up“

	'Which perspectives for Sino-European research and innovation cooperation? Recommendations for safe, sustainable and better-informed cooperation environment based on a trans-European survey’ Philipp Brugner ZSI Centre for Social Innovation, Österreich Prof. Dr. Ute Habel Vice-Rector for International Affairs, RWTH Aachen 'Governance & Strategies of International Collaboration in times of Conflict’ PD Dr. Henning Kroll Head of Business Unit Innovation Trends and Science Studies, Department Innovation and Knowledge Economy, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI Christiane Wolf-Suzuki BUA Forum on Diplomatic Resilience, Berlin Center for Global Engagement am BCGE
17:00	Closing remarks and end of the conference