Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SENET (Strengthening international R&I cooperations between China and the EU)
Période du rapport: 2020-07-01 au 2021-12-31
The European Union (EU) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have a long-lasting history of cooperation in science and technology with the first formal establishment of a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between the two political entities in 1998.
In recent years, the EU’s strategic approach towards China has undergone significant change aiming at a level playing field. China is simultaneously seen as a cooperation partner, an economic competitor and a systemic rival depending on the policy area. This strategic shift directly influences the cooperation on research and innovation in the health sector.
Both geographic areas directly benefit from a continuous health-related research and innovation dialogue and a closer cooperation on common health challenges, having a strong impact on citizens and society - in terms of disease prevention, life quality and the general wellbeing – as well as on patients suffering from all kinds of diseases and pathologies.
This is where SENET, the Sino-European Health Networking Hub, steps in. The project firstly aims to facilitate favourable conditions for a constant and constructive dialogue between Chinese and EU research and innovation entities via the creation of a sustainable health networking and knowledge hub. Secondly, SENET promotes collaborative efforts addressing common health research and innovation priorities on concrete call topics targeting Sino-European health stakeholders.
In the context of the current uncertainties regarding the formal collaboration on science and technology in combination with the harsh impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, SENET through its ample activities played a pivotal role in bridging the growing divide of Europe and China maintaining a constant exchange on health research and innovation issues and showing a path to a stronger collaboration in the near future.
In recent years, the EU’s strategic approach towards China has undergone significant change aiming at a level playing field. China is simultaneously seen as a cooperation partner, an economic competitor and a systemic rival depending on the policy area. This strategic shift directly influences the cooperation on research and innovation in the health sector.
Both geographic areas directly benefit from a continuous health-related research and innovation dialogue and a closer cooperation on common health challenges, having a strong impact on citizens and society - in terms of disease prevention, life quality and the general wellbeing – as well as on patients suffering from all kinds of diseases and pathologies.
This is where SENET, the Sino-European Health Networking Hub, steps in. The project firstly aims to facilitate favourable conditions for a constant and constructive dialogue between Chinese and EU research and innovation entities via the creation of a sustainable health networking and knowledge hub. Secondly, SENET promotes collaborative efforts addressing common health research and innovation priorities on concrete call topics targeting Sino-European health stakeholders.
In the context of the current uncertainties regarding the formal collaboration on science and technology in combination with the harsh impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, SENET through its ample activities played a pivotal role in bridging the growing divide of Europe and China maintaining a constant exchange on health research and innovation issues and showing a path to a stronger collaboration in the near future.
I - Assessment of strategic health priorities (reports)
* Scoping paper: Review on health research and innovation priorities in Europe and China
Extensive review on health research and innovation priorities in Europe and China.
Exploitation: Forming the basis for the Sino-European Health Networking Hub expert groups (WP2), definition of relevant call topics (WP3), outreach to policy makers, research institutes and individuals
* Map of major funding agencies and stakeholders in Europe and China
The map highlighted funding agencies and programmes that have a focus on health-related topics. Within these programmes, the report elaborated common areas for EU-China cooperation on health research.
Exploitation: Use for SENET partners to gain an understanding of the relevant health programmes initiated by the national and governmental agencies
* Guide for health researchers from Europe and China through the funding landscape
It summarises the major health-related funding programmes launched by government of the EU and China to support health and guides the application process.
Exploitation: Sharing of comprehensive guidelines for health researchers, complementation of roadshow information (WP3)
* Strategy paper: Towards closer EU-China health research and innovation collaboration
This report explored a closer Sino-European health collaboration focussing on i) common health R&I priorities going beyond D1.1 ii) researcher’s participation in H2020 and Chinese funding programmes and iii) researcher mobility.
Exploitation: Forming the basis for the Sino-European Health Networking Hub expert groups (WP2), stimulating the dialogue in the Sino-European health research and innovation community
II - Sino-European health networking hub (reports)
The three public reports summarize the key findings of the project by combining expert groups results with extensive desk research and stakeholder consultations.
* Initial roadmap for enhancing EU-China health research and innovation collaboration
This report provides an overview on concrete Sino-European collaborations in the health area.
* Strategic recommendations for health research and innovation collaborations
Here, strategic collaboration thematics and policy recommendations are gathered with the aim to enhance collaboration between Europe and China.
* Consolidated action plan for research and innovation priorities in health
This final report provides clearly defined actionable items with a precise timeline of implementation facilitating enhanced Sino-European health collaboration.
Exploitation: Policy makers, follow-up initiatives active in health research and innovation policies
All public reports will be available here:
https://www.senet-hub.eu/public-report/Public reports
Dissemination of reports upon approval: project website, social media channels, newsletter
III - Capacity building
* Virtual ideation hackathons
The overarching aim of the virtual ideation hackathons was to encourage international cooperation between the EU and China in the health sector. The specific objective is to empower potential partners to co-design and conceptualise a research and innovation draft around which a core consortium can form. SENET held three virtual ideation hackathons with the participation of 137 unique attendees over all three set of events.
Dissemination: Project website, social media channels, newsletter
Exploitation: Stakeholders providing their ongoing interest in participating in concrete Horizon Europe proposals were considered as an Expression of Interest (EoI) for SENET’s call power partnering.
* Call power partnering activities
SENET’s power partnering activities fostered Sino-European cooperation and engaged R&I stakeholders on concrete funding opportunities pre-selected by the SENET consortium upon criteria favourable for international collaboration with a Sino-European scope. Positive feedback from SENET’s target groups and stakeholders was gathered and counted as Expression of Interest (EoI). SENET collected 17 EoIs in total.
Dissemination: Promotion of pre-selected funding opportunities(H2020 & Horizon Europe) via webpage and social media , outreach to R&I stakeholders via roadshow events and dedicated matchmaking opportunities (Sino-European Health Collaboration Week)
* Roadshows
SENET showcased European and Chinese research and innovation framework programmes with relevant practical information on how to apply for available public funds, showing examples of successful cooperation examples between China and Europe and recommending best practices. In total, the SENET roadshow events were attended by an audience of 435 people in EU and China.
Dissemination: Project website, social media channels, newsletter
* Scoping paper: Review on health research and innovation priorities in Europe and China
Extensive review on health research and innovation priorities in Europe and China.
Exploitation: Forming the basis for the Sino-European Health Networking Hub expert groups (WP2), definition of relevant call topics (WP3), outreach to policy makers, research institutes and individuals
* Map of major funding agencies and stakeholders in Europe and China
The map highlighted funding agencies and programmes that have a focus on health-related topics. Within these programmes, the report elaborated common areas for EU-China cooperation on health research.
Exploitation: Use for SENET partners to gain an understanding of the relevant health programmes initiated by the national and governmental agencies
* Guide for health researchers from Europe and China through the funding landscape
It summarises the major health-related funding programmes launched by government of the EU and China to support health and guides the application process.
Exploitation: Sharing of comprehensive guidelines for health researchers, complementation of roadshow information (WP3)
* Strategy paper: Towards closer EU-China health research and innovation collaboration
This report explored a closer Sino-European health collaboration focussing on i) common health R&I priorities going beyond D1.1 ii) researcher’s participation in H2020 and Chinese funding programmes and iii) researcher mobility.
Exploitation: Forming the basis for the Sino-European Health Networking Hub expert groups (WP2), stimulating the dialogue in the Sino-European health research and innovation community
II - Sino-European health networking hub (reports)
The three public reports summarize the key findings of the project by combining expert groups results with extensive desk research and stakeholder consultations.
* Initial roadmap for enhancing EU-China health research and innovation collaboration
This report provides an overview on concrete Sino-European collaborations in the health area.
* Strategic recommendations for health research and innovation collaborations
Here, strategic collaboration thematics and policy recommendations are gathered with the aim to enhance collaboration between Europe and China.
* Consolidated action plan for research and innovation priorities in health
This final report provides clearly defined actionable items with a precise timeline of implementation facilitating enhanced Sino-European health collaboration.
Exploitation: Policy makers, follow-up initiatives active in health research and innovation policies
All public reports will be available here:
https://www.senet-hub.eu/public-report/Public reports
Dissemination of reports upon approval: project website, social media channels, newsletter
III - Capacity building
* Virtual ideation hackathons
The overarching aim of the virtual ideation hackathons was to encourage international cooperation between the EU and China in the health sector. The specific objective is to empower potential partners to co-design and conceptualise a research and innovation draft around which a core consortium can form. SENET held three virtual ideation hackathons with the participation of 137 unique attendees over all three set of events.
Dissemination: Project website, social media channels, newsletter
Exploitation: Stakeholders providing their ongoing interest in participating in concrete Horizon Europe proposals were considered as an Expression of Interest (EoI) for SENET’s call power partnering.
* Call power partnering activities
SENET’s power partnering activities fostered Sino-European cooperation and engaged R&I stakeholders on concrete funding opportunities pre-selected by the SENET consortium upon criteria favourable for international collaboration with a Sino-European scope. Positive feedback from SENET’s target groups and stakeholders was gathered and counted as Expression of Interest (EoI). SENET collected 17 EoIs in total.
Dissemination: Promotion of pre-selected funding opportunities(H2020 & Horizon Europe) via webpage and social media , outreach to R&I stakeholders via roadshow events and dedicated matchmaking opportunities (Sino-European Health Collaboration Week)
* Roadshows
SENET showcased European and Chinese research and innovation framework programmes with relevant practical information on how to apply for available public funds, showing examples of successful cooperation examples between China and Europe and recommending best practices. In total, the SENET roadshow events were attended by an audience of 435 people in EU and China.
Dissemination: Project website, social media channels, newsletter
The core of the SENET health networking hub aims to develop a sustainable network between the EU and China, which will facilitate a constant dialogue on addressing common health research and innovation challenges and facilitating the identification of relevant health topics. SENET understands itself as a platform for increasing international collaboration, notably between the EU and China in the domain of health care and wellbeing. As such, SENET expects that the knowledge acquired, and networks built will contribute to further measures and more intense collaborations in tackling societal challenges at a truly global level.