Chinese-German Forum

Overcoming challenges and shaping the future together
---- Sino-German science and technology cooperation in times of
epidemic prevention and control

Researchers and politicians from China and Germany exchanged views during the Sino-German Forum on Science and Technology Cooperation, which was jointly organized by Ms. Annette Schavan and Mr. WAN Gang (alumnus of Clausthal University of Technology) and held last Thursday in the form of an online conference.

Ms. Schavan (German President of the Sino-German Dialogue Forum, Former Federal Minister of Education and Research) believes that Germany and China share a privileged partnership. The exchange on major topics of the future is important, she said, referring to the Sino-German Dialogue Forum led by Professor Wan Gang and Ms. Schavan. During the pandemic, a new awareness of shared responsibility for tackling the major challenges of the future has emerged and never before have cooperation, partnership and exchange on business, science and culture been so valuable. In the past months of the pandemic, politicians' respect for science has increased significantly, as they have been in regular contact with virologists, epidemiologists and medical experts. The importance of science in our societies is thus taking on new dimensions and this would not have been possible without a successful dialog between science and politics. More respect for the earth and a sense of global community will help to overcome future problems such as climate change and the use of natural resources. The corona crisis brings opportunities because it increases awareness of international cooperation and understanding of the global community.

Shi Mingde (President of the Sino-German Friendship Association and former Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Germany) said in his speech that relations between China and Germany are also a very important part of relations between China and the EU. China and Germany would be cooperating partners and not rivals. He hoped that there would be cooperation within the year to achieve the investment agreement between China and the EU. Concrete results should be achieved within the year in the areas of climate change, cooperation between China, Africa and Europe as well as in the digital and green economy. He is looking forward to the second China-Germany Forum this year.

In her speech,Ms. Thies (former State Secretary and former Secretary General of the German Conference of Ministers of Culture and Education) reported that exchanges between primary and secondary school students between China and Germany had been expanded and that many Confucius Institutes had been established. The exchange of teachers had led to networking and even friendships and scientific research cooperation. However, the political environment has had an impact on the education sector, which has led to restrictions in the field of science and research between the two countries. She suggested establishing the Sino-German Academy of Young Scientists and trying out the successful dual university model in China.

Stephan Wöllenstein (CEO of Volkswagen Group (China)) talked about the overall recovery of the Chinese automobile market since April, which has given strong positive signals to the rest of the world.

Professor Schachtner (President of Clausthal University of Technology) emphasized that China is an important and strategic partner for Clausthal University of Technology, which is why particular emphasis has been placed on the establishment of a China Competence Center. Recently, the "Circular Economy" was defined as the leading topic for future research fields and the range of courses on offer. This is intended to promote innovative cooperation with China in several areas such as sustainable circular economy, sustainable energy systems and digitalization. Despite the pandemic, work has continued to actively expand partnerships with various Chinese universities and Clausthal University of Technology. He sees the COVID-19 pandemic as offering many opportunities for innovative cooperation between Germany and China with regard to the exchange of students, research, transfer and the promotion of young talent. Finally, Professor Schachtner expressed his thanks to Professor Wan Gang for his support of Clausthal University of Technology during the pandemic. He hopes that the cooperation and friendship between Clausthal University of Technology and the Chinese partner universities will be further strengthened by jointly overcoming the corona period.

Professor Hanschke (Commissioner for Education, Science and Culture for China Affairs of the Federal State of Lower Saxony of the Federal Republic of Germany) spoke about the China network of universities in Lower Saxony, which was set up to intensify cooperation with Chinese partners in culture, education, research and technology transfer and to exchange views on strategic framework conditions for cooperation. He had fond memories of his visits to China in the past. He said that the industrialized nations were facing major technical and ecological challenges and that dialogue with China in the joint fields of action needed to be intensified in order to be prepared for these changes. To this end, an international cooperative doctoral college of the universities in Lower Saxony should be implemented with the Chinese partner universities, the research program of which is based on the fields of action of the China strategy of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Germany strategy of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Lower Saxony's universities are networked with each other via extensive joint projects and share many years of experience in the use and development of digital teaching technologies. Lower Saxony also offers excellent conditions for successful cooperation between science and industry. The Hannover-Braunschweig-Göttingen-Wolfsburg metropolitan region has distinguished itself as a developer, promoter and partner of innovative projects at regional, national and international level.

In his speech,Professor Hou (Professor at Clausthal University of Technology) presented a number of cooperation projects in the field of sustainable energy systems that have emerged from the collaboration with China. He spoke of the social and technological challenges in the areas of energy transition, sustainable green development and climate change, which can hardly be mastered by a single country. The EU therefore wants to find a strong partner in China in order to achieve sustainable results in the aforementioned areas. Based on existing cooperation and Germany's national hydrogen strategy, which will probably also become an issue in China in the foreseeable future, Professor Hou proposes the expansion and improved coordination of German-Chinese platforms in the field of sustainable energy systems. Innovative hydrogen technologies and sector coupling should be jointly promoted by both governments as core elements of the energy transition as soon as possible. It would also make sense to dovetail developments in the energy transition in both countries even more closely. Respect and trust in German-Chinese cooperation, a functioning infrastructure, expertise in China and the active involvement of Chinese alumni are important factors for the success of German-Chinese cooperation.

Dong Qi (Director of the Sino-German Center for Humanities and Exchange Research at Tongji University, President of Tongji Zhejiang College, former Vice President of Tongji University and Envoy Counsellor of the Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in BR Germany) said in his speech，China and Germany should build an open innovation model from the three aspects of parts, joint innovation and win-win to complement China's huge innovation potential and market opportunities with Germany's technological advantages, further strengthen cooperation in science and technology and innovation, and quickly implement the results of cooperative scientific research. This could achieve greater productivity, multiplication of knowledge and value in innovation cooperation, multiplication of innovation efficiency and joint creation of knowledge wealth.

Professor Wan Gang (Vice Chairman of China National Political Consultative Conference, President of China Society for Science and Technology, the Chinese President of the Sino-German Dialogue Forum) made a very urgent appeal in his closing speech to "move forward in solidarity, respond to the challenges of the epidemic together in a forward-looking manner and take Sino-German science and technology cooperation to a new height". The special position of Clausthal University of Technology within Sino-German relations was also reflected in the number of attendees at the event, which, with four members of TU Clausthal (including VPF Professor Alfons Esderts), represented around 30 percent of all German participants. Overall, it was a very successful and impressive event.