Brussels weighs banning China from major EU research scheme
- Reference: 1762953159
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/11/12/europe_china_horizon/
- Source link:
A draft document for the [1]Horizon Europe "main" work program for 2026/2027 proposes excluding Chinese entities from three of the six research areas: civil security and society; health; and digital, industry and space technologies.
The proposals have not yet been adopted or endorsed by the European Commission, although they are clearly being considered.
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The restrictions respond to lack of progress on an EU-China cooperation roadmap established at the 2019 [3]Innovation Cooperation Dialogue . The Commission points to persistent concerns about protecting trade secrets and potential transfer of knowledge to China's military, which it says are "supported rather than deterred" by Beijing's policies.
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"In view of the persistent lack of progress in the discussions on the Roadmap and the substantive concerns in relation to the undesired transfer of IP to China supported by both legislative and policy initiatives, cooperation involving entities established in China needs to be calibrated accordingly," it states.
The document specifically cites China's civil-military fusion strategy and related measures aimed at strengthening China's technological capabilities in both civilian and military domains.
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Universities linked to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will be barred from all program participation, given Horizon Europe's mandate that research must have exclusively civil applications.
The Commission argues that protecting the European Union's technological edge and strategic autonomy is essential to its security, economic capacity, and resilience. It warns that Chinese participation in certain innovation areas poses specific risks due to "a fundamental regulatory imbalance" between the EU and China.
The Register asked the European Commission for comment.
[7]China hates crypto and scams, but is now outraged USA acquired bitcoin from a scammer
[8]Australia's spy boss says authoritarian nations ready to commit 'high-impact sabotage'
[9]UK asks cyberspies to probe whether Chinese buses can be switched off remotely
[10]China's president Xi Jinping jokes about backdoors in Xiaomi smartphones
The UK, which [11]rejoined Horizon in 2023 post-Brexit, is similarly limiting cooperation with China.
According to [12]reports this week, science minister Lord Patrick Vallance said collaboration would be confined to "uncontroversial" areas: health, climate, planetary science, and agriculture - a narrower scope than previous commitments which included satellite technology and robotics.
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The moves come amid ongoing reports of Chinese espionage targeting organizations across Western countries, with intelligence officials repeatedly warning about [14]state-sponsored theft of sensitive data and technology. ®
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[1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aRS9JD1V_92EvQB8faBLiwAAAZE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/download/eab123b2-bf86-47f3-b872-67315435f921_en
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aRS9JD1V_92EvQB8faBLiwAAAZE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aRS9JD1V_92EvQB8faBLiwAAAZE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aRS9JD1V_92EvQB8faBLiwAAAZE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/12/cverc_prince_grou_scam_bitcoin/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/12/asio_cyber_sabotage_warnings/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/11/uk_probe_china_bus_claim/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/04/chinas_president_xi_jinping_jokes/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/07/uk_rejoins_eus_85_billion/
[12] https://www.ft.com/content/edc0bcc1-6a8d-421e-addf-d6762d61c97c
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aRS9JD1V_92EvQB8faBLiwAAAZE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/18/five_eyes_china_espionage/
[15] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Amusing.
The use of equivalency here is depressing. Yup the USA under Trump is no longer the beacon it was but they share a general outlook on life with the UK and the EU that is significantly similar and in a few years an election will happen and change can occur. China is not the same. The 'Great Wall', the work camps, the wholesale theft of IP, the oppression of Tibet, theft of waters off the Philippines and Vietnam and the suchlike are all clear and present dangers to the UK and the West in general. If you look at where refugees tend to run to, it is most definitely not the PRC but then again all you need to do is try and find out about Tiananmen square and see who comes to your door or even if you can within the PRC.
Re: Amusing.
I'm less worried about the dual-use stuff and IP protection than I am about China's tendency to apply pressure on foreign universities and unwillingness to engage constructively in international projects. They are doing some great research and most of the scientists jump at the chance to work with others, but then political pressure is applied because, for the Chinese Communist Party at least, the sharing of ideas is dangerous in itself.
Re: Amusing.
You've got to remember that Europe doesn't want to be a power, it needs a daddy. Much like American reactionaries, European politicians are not in the game to guarantee the prosperity around them but to make sure nobody else takes their place as the favored/Teacher's Pet of American owners.
They thought Russian signal boosting was bad? They ain't seen nothing yet.
Amusing.
quote: links between Chinese universities and Beijing's military
The UK government supplies about $6bn towards UK uni research, funds tuition by proxy and manipulates UK university intakes/courses via policies, funding council decisions and cuts.
quote: Horizon Europe's mandate that research must have exclusively civil applications.
Almost all technologies can be used for both civil and military purposes.
quote: European Union's technological edge and strategic autonomy.
They are almost entirely dependent on the US in multiple sectors and have just been ordered by Trump to spend more on US weapons, at the expense of domestic spending. Not much edge, and not much autonomy there.
quote: satellite technology and robotics.
China may actually be ahead of the EU in these two sectors. It would have been a good opportunity to pinch some Chinese IP and some talent. The UK has just shot itself in the foot on that score too.
quote: "uncontroversial" areas: health, climate
They are a teensy bit controversial in Trumpica, as he may eventually rename it.
quote: Chinese espionage
Everyone spies on everyone else. It is childish to pretend they do not.
As for state manipulation of the private sector - Washington now owns 10% of Intel and expects CEOs to report to Trump, grovel, and do the Orange Emperor's bidding. Musk was actually working for the USG. Plus those America first demands on chip use and access. Trump has US unis, industry and the US media on a leash, extracting cash if they do not behave. He is actually out-China-ing China.
The EU can block and exclude China, but they dare not do that with Trump, who is a much bigger problem. The Chinese have not been going out of their way to boost extreme right wing populists in Europe or threatening to molest Greenland. China's main focus is Asia.