Joybrato Mukherjee: Academic cooperation with China: A realistic approach

China has long been an international leader in some areas of research and is quickly catching up with the top of the field in others. As an important centre of innovation, which Germany is and wants to remain, we simply cannot ignore this and need to stay close to top scientific research to advance ourselves. Therefore, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Germany need to find a realistic approach that allows cooperation with China and, at the same time, provides them with the necessary tools to emphasise their interests.

German partners in academic cooperation are increasingly aware of the strategic interests that China pursues through its foreign policy and of the role science plays in the pursuit of such interests, which are not necessarily in line with the interests of the German science community. If German institutions of higher education want to continue a partnership with China, they need to develop a long-term strategy of their own. The German Federal Government provided with its China Strategy a preliminary comprehensive approach, which advocates for continuing cooperation while also focussing on German interests. This includes the implementation of ‘de-risking’ strategies in their cooperation with China.

As Germany’s leading funding organization for the international exchange of students and researchers as well as member association of HEIs in Germany and their student bodies, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports the internationalisation of German HEIs and advises decision-makers on education, foreign science and development policy. Our Centre for International Academic Collaboration (KIWi) provides individual advice, networked expertise and peer-to-peer exchange for German academic institutions on various aspects of international academic cooperation, from the establishment of contacts with potential partners to the assessment of risks in research projects.

In line with the China Strategy, we support German HEIs in their activities with Chinese partners, but also advocate for a realistic approach. In January 2024, we published guidelines for academic cooperation with China in a recommendation paper, which identifies three core principles:

1. Define interests and develop reciprocal relationships: Opportunities and risks in international cooperation need to be weighed carefully. This includes a review of potential risks and opportunities, but also extends to a better integration of Chinese students and staff on German campuses as well as support for German HEIs in collaborations with Chinese research institutions that are leaders in their respective fields.
2. Minimise risks: A policy of isolation or "de-coupling" from China incurs greater costs than cooperation with China. A realistic approach means that, instead of ending partnerships, institutions of higher education should reaffirm interests through dialogue with their Chinese partners. They should emphasise the freedom and the responsibilities of involved researchers and institutions, raise awareness of risks in cooperation and establish due diligence processes. German HEIs should have an up-to-date overview of cooperation agreements and researchers involved in cooperations with China at their institutions and establish a regular exchange with them, including regular training to make their members more alert to security issues.
3. Develop expertise on China: Following the China strategy, we support efforts to enhance the expertise on China in German academia. Crucial for an expansion of China expertise is the promotion of student and staff mobility to China, which has recently been drastically declining from the German side. At the same time, HEIs in Germany should consolidate and exploit their existing expertise in disciplines with a regional focus such as China studies, political sciences, law and economics as well as business administration.

We witness a growing demand from universities and research institutions for more guidance and exchange on strategic decisions about international cooperation. At the same time, the integrity of researchers and research results needs to be maintained. Following the principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy, the final decision should lie with the involved institutions and researchers.

The complexities of cooperation with China demand that institutions continue the discussions with all stakeholders in academia, politics, business, and society. The German discourse on academic cooperation should also include European partners, especially when discussing export controls and the adjustments to rules. In the past, we have contributed to this exchange by providing information and a platform for discussion with other European partners.

Essentially, following the German government’s China Strategy, a realistic approach to academic cooperation with China implies ‘de-risking’, while also allowing for the continuation of successful joint projects as well as of long-established networks.